Computing device and method for generating a link IPV6 address

A method for generating a link Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) address, comprising

• storing a configuration file in a memory of a computing device, the configuration file comprising an IPv6 base prefix;
• and
• determining by a processing unit of the computing device a local node identifier for a communication interface of the computing device;
• determining by the processing unit a local link identifier for the communication interface of the computing device;
• receiving by the processing unit from a remote computing device via the communication interface a remote node identifier and a remote link identifier for a remote communication interface of the remote computing device;
• comparing by the processing unit the local node identifier and the remote node identifier;
• generating by the processing unit an IPv6 address by:
• if the local node identifier is greater than the remote node identifier, combining the IPv6 base prefix stored in the configuration file, the local node identifier, the remote node identifier, the local link identifier and an indicator that the local node identifier is greater than the remote node identifier;
• and
• if the local node identifier is lower than the remote node identifier, combining the IPv6 base prefix stored in the configuration file, the remote node identifier, the local node identifier, the remote link identifier and an indicator that the local node identifier is lower than the remote node identifier;
• and
• configuring the communication interface with the IPv6 address.

A non-transitory computer program product comprising instructions executable by a processing unit of a computing device, the execution of the instructions by the processing unit providing for generating a link Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) address by:

• storing a configuration file in a memory of a computing device, the configuration file comprising an IPv6 base prefix;
• and
• determining by a processing unit of the computing device a local node identifier for a communication interface of the computing device;
• determining by the processing unit a local link identifier for the communication interface of the computing device;
• receiving by the processing unit from a remote computing device via the communication interface a remote node identifier and a remote link identifier for a remote communication interface of the remote computing device;
• comparing by the processing unit the local node identifier and the remote node identifier;
• generating by the processing unit an IPv6 address by:
• if the local node identifier is greater than the remote node identifier, combining the IPv6 base prefix stored in the configuration file, the local node identifier, the remote node identifier, the local link identifier and an indicator that the local node identifier is greater than the remote node identifier;
• and
• if the local node identifier is lower than the remote node identifier, combining the IPv6 base prefix stored in the configuration file, the remote node identifier, the local node identifier, the remote link identifier and an indicator that the local node identifier is lower than the remote node identifier;
• and
• configuring the communication interface with the IPv6 address.

A method for performing a network configuration of a computing device located in a fabric of a data center, the method comprising

• storing a configuration file in a memory of the computing device, the configuration file comprising a first Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) base prefix, a fabric identifier, and a second IPv6 base prefix;
• determining by a processing unit of the computing device a host identifier;
• generating by the processing unit a factory-wide IPv6 prefix by combining the first IPv6 base prefix stored in the configuration file and the fabric identifier stored in the configuration file;
• generating by the processing unit a fabric-wide IPv6 address by combining the fabric-wide IPv6 prefix and the host identifier;
• determining by the processing unit a local node identifier for a communication interface of the computing device;
• determining by the processing unit a local link identifier for the communication interface of the computing device;
• receiving by the processing unit from a remote computing device via the communication interface a remote node identifier and a remote link identifier for a remote communication interface of the remote computing device;
• comparing by the processing unit the local node identifier and the remote node identifier;
• generating by the processing unit a link IPv6 address by:
• if the local node identifier is greater than the remote node identifier, combining the second IPv6 base prefix stored in the configuration file, the local node identifier, the remote node identifier, the local link identifier and an indicator that the local node identifier is greater than the remote node identifier;
• and
• if the local node identifier is lower than the remote node identifier, combining the second IPv6 base prefix stored in the configuration file, the remote node identifier, the local node identifier, the remote link identifier and an indicator that the local node identifier is lower than the remote node identifier;
• and
• configuring the communication interface with the link IPv6 address.

A computing device comprising:

• a communication interface;
• memory for storing a configuration file, the configuration file comprising an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) base prefix;
• and
• a processing unit for:
• determining a local node identifier for the communication interface;
• determining a local link identifier for the communication interface;
• receiving from a remote computing device via the communication interface a remote node identifier and a remote link identifier for a remote communication interface of the remote computing device;
• comparing the local node identifier and the remote node identifier;
• generating an IPv6 address by:
• if the local node identifier is lower than the remote node identifier, combining the IPv6 base prefix stored in the configuration file, the local node identifier, the remote node identifier, the local link identifier and an indicator that the local node identifier is greater than the remote node identifier;
• and
• if the local node identifier is greater than the remote node identifier, combining the IPv6 base prefix stored in the configuration file, the remote node identifier, the local node identifier, the remote link identifier and an indicator that the local node identifier is lower than the remote node identifier;
• and
• configuring the communication interface with the IPv6 address.