# US 10,873,506 B2 · Validation of a virtual port channel (VPC) endpoint in the network fabric > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,873,506 B2 - Document ID: US10873506B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/712,113 - Filed: 2019-12-12 - Published: 2020-04-16 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-19 - Assignees: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Ayas Pani; Sanchay Harneja; Manali Holankar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873506B2 ## CPC - H04L 41/0873: Checking configuration conflicts between network elements - H04L 41/0686: Additional information in the notification, e.g. enhancement of specific meta-data - H04L 43/065: related to network devices - H04L 41/22: comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI] - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for validating endpoint information for nodes in a network. A network assurance appliance is configured to retrieve, from a first leaf node in a network, first endpoint information for a first set of endpoints connected to the first leaf node, wherein the first set of endpoints includes a virtual port channel (VPC) endpoint. The network assurance appliance retrieves second endpoint information from a second node in the network, compares the first endpoint information with the second endpoint information, and identifies an inconsistency when the first endpoint information and the second endpoint information do not match. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method comprising: retrieving, from a first leaf node in a network, first endpoint information for a first set of endpoints connected to the first leaf node; retrieving, from a second leaf node in the network, second endpoint information for a second set of endpoints connected to the second leaf node; comparing a first endpoint identifier and a first endpoint flag status within the first endpoint information with a second endpoint identifier and a second endpoint flag status within the second endpoint information; and identifying, based on the comparing, an inconsistency when the first endpoint identifier and the second endpoint identifier match and the first endpoint flag status and the second endpoint flag status do not match. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first endpoint information includes an endpoint identifier for a VPC endpoint and a VPC flag that is set. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the method further comprising: retrieving, from a third leaf node in the network, third endpoint information for a third set of endpoints connected to the third leaf node; and wherein the identifying of the inconsistency is based on the first endpoint information, the second endpoint information, and the third endpoint information each including an identical endpoint identifier. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first endpoint information comprises a first virtual internet protocol (VIP) address and the second endpoint information comprises a second VIP address, and the identifying of the inconsistency is based on the first VIP address being different from the second VIP address. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the first VIP address is assigned to a first endpoint by a network controller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: retrieving, from a third leaf node in the network, third endpoint information for a third set of endpoints connected to the third leaf node; and wherein the identifying of the inconsistency is based on the first endpoint information, the second endpoint information, and the third endpoint information each including an identical VIP address. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first endpoint information comprises a configured VIP address, the method further comprising: retrieving, from a network controller in the network, an intended VIP address for the first endpoint; and identifying a second inconsistency when the intended VIP address for the first endpoint does not match the configured VIP address for the first endpoint. ### Claim 8 A system comprising: at least one computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions; a processor programmed to cooperate with the instructions to perform operations comprising: retrieving, from a first leaf node in a network, first endpoint information for a first set of endpoints connected to the first leaf node; retrieving, from a second leaf node in the network, second endpoint information for a second set of endpoints connected to the second leaf node; comparing a first endpoint identifier and a first endpoint flag status within the first endpoint information with a second endpoint identifier and a second endpoint flag status within the second endpoint information; and identifying, based on the comparing, an inconsistency when the first endpoint identifier and the second endpoint identifier match and the first endpoint flag status and the second endpoint flag status do not match. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the first endpoint information includes an endpoint identifier for a VPC endpoint and a VPC flag that is set. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, the operations further comprising: retrieving, from a third leaf node in the network, third endpoint information for a third set of endpoints connected to the third leaf node; and wherein the identifying of the inconsistency is based on the first endpoint information, the second endpoint information, and the third endpoint information each including an identical endpoint identifier. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the first endpoint information comprises a first virtual internet protocol (VIP) address and the second endpoint information comprises a second VIP address, and the identifying of the inconsistency is based on the first VIP address being different from the second VIP address. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the first VIP address is assigned to a first endpoint by a network controller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, the operations further comprising: retrieving, from a third leaf node in the network, third endpoint information for a third set of endpoints connected to the third leaf node; and wherein the identifying of the inconsistency is based on the first endpoint information, the second endpoint information, and the third endpoint information each including an identical VIP address. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the first endpoint information comprises a configured VIP address, the operations further comprising: retrieving, from a network controller in the network, an intended VIP address for the first endpoint; and identifying a second inconsistency when the intended VIP address for the first endpoint does not match the configured VIP address for the first endpoint. ### Claim 15 A non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising instructions stored therein instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: retrieving, from a first leaf node in a network, first endpoint information for a first set of endpoints connected to the first leaf node; retrieving, from a second leaf node in the network, second endpoint information for a second set of endpoints connected to the second leaf node; comparing a first endpoint identifier and a first endpoint flag status within the first endpoint information with a second endpoint identifier and a second endpoint flag status within the second endpoint information; and identifying, based on the comparing, an inconsistency when the first endpoint identifier and the second endpoint identifier match and the first endpoint flag status and the second endpoint flag status do not match. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The media of claim 15, wherein the first endpoint information includes an endpoint identifier for a VPC endpoint and a VPC flag that is set. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The media of claim 15, the operations further comprising: retrieving, from a third leaf node in the network, third endpoint information for a third set of endpoints connected to the third leaf node; and wherein the identifying of the inconsistency is based on the first endpoint information, the second endpoint information, and the third endpoint information each including an identical endpoint identifier. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The media of claim 15, wherein the first endpoint information comprises a first virtual internet protocol (VIP) address and the second endpoint information comprises a second VIP address, and the identifying of the inconsistency is based on the first VIP address being different from the second VIP address. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The media of claim 18, wherein the first VIP address is assigned to a first endpoint by a network controller. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The media of claim 15, the operations further comprising: retrieving, from a third leaf node in the network, third endpoint information for a third set of endpoints connected to the third leaf node; and wherein the identifying of the inconsistency is based on the first endpoint information, the second endpoint information, and the third endpoint information each including an identical VIP address.