# US 12,003,608 B2 · System and method for repurposing layer 2 switch as a layer 1 switch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,608 B2 - Document ID: US12003608B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/589,327 - Filed: 2022-01-31 - Published: 2022-05-19 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-12 - Assignees: NetScout Systems, Inc. - Applicants: NetScout Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Larry Cantwell; Diego Warszawski; David L. Sclarsky - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003608B2 ## CPC - H04L 67/34: {involving the movement of software or configuration parameters (network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416)} - H04L 69/08: Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion - H04L 49/60: Software-defined switches - H04L 49/65: Re-configuration of fast packet switches - H04L 63/101: {Access control lists [ACL]} - H04L 69/321: Interlayer communication protocols or service data unit [SDU] definitions; Interfaces between layers - H04L 69/323: in the physical layer [OSI layer 1] - H04L 69/324: in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC - H04L 49/205: {Quality of Service based} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A computer-implemented method for repurposing one or more software configurable layer 2 switches in an IP (Internet Protocal) computer network to function as a layer 1 switch. Ternary Content-Addressable Memory (TCAM) is reconfigured in each of the one or more layer 2 switches and one or more pipeline engines are routed to emulate layer 1 switching functionality in each of the one or more layer 2 switches. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method for repurposing one or more software configurable layer 2 switches in an IP (Internet Protocol) computer network to function as a layer 1 switch comprising: reconfiguring Ternary Content-Addressable Memory (TCAM) in each of the one or more layer 2 switches; routing one or more pipeline engines to emulate layer 1 switching functionality in each of the one or more layer 2 switches; disabling forwarding functionality to decrease latency in each of the one or more layer 2 switches; enabling Small Form-Factor Pluggable Ports (SFPs) for Transmission (TX) and Reception (RX) in each of the one or more layer 2 switches; creating a multicast group such that a Port.2 is added to the created multicast group in each of the one or more layer 2 switches; and providing an Access Control List (ACL) rule wherein when a condition is input Port.1 an action is to redirect to the created multicast group in each of the one or more layer 2 switches. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more layer 2 switches are “bare metal” switches. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further including disabling learning and routing functions in each of the one or more layer 2 switches. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further including provide a lowest precedence ACL rule whereby condition is ALL PORTS and action is DENY ALL in each of the one or more layer 2 switches. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further including preventing VLAN filtering in each of the one or more layer 2 switches. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further including preventing packet dropping in each of the one or more layer 2 switches. ### Claim 7 A computer-implemented method for repurposing one or more software configurable layer 2 switches in an IP (Internet Protocol) computer network to function as a layer 1 switch comprising: reconfiguring Ternary Content-Addressable Memory (TCAM) in each of the one or more layer 2 switches; routing one or more pipeline engines to emulate layer 1 switching functionality in each of the one or more layer 2 switches; enabling Small Form-Factor Pluggable Ports (SFPs) for Transmission (TX) and Reception (RX) in each of the one or more layer 2 switches; creating a multicast group such that a Port.2 is added to the created multicast group in each of the one or more layer 2 switches; and providing an Access Control List (ACL) rule wherein when a condition is input Port.1 an action is to redirect to the created multicast group in each of the one or more layer 2 switches. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 7, wherein at least one of the one or more layer 2 switches are “bare metal” switches. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 7, further including disabling learning and routing functions in each of the one or more layer 2 switches. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 6, further including disabling forwarding functionality to decrease latency in each of the one or more layer 2 switches. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 7, further including provide a lowest precedence ACL rule whereby condition is ALL PORTS and action is DENY ALL in each of the one or more layer 2 switches. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 7, further including preventing VLAN filtering in each of the one or more layer 2 switches. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 7, further including preventing packet dropping in each of the one or more layer 2 switches. ### Claim 14 A computer-implemented method for repurposing one or more software configurable layer 2 switches in an IP (Internet Protocol) computer network to function as a layer 1 switch comprising: reconfiguring Ternary Content-Addressable Memory (TCAM) in each of the one or more layer 2 switches; routing one or more pipeline engines to emulate layer 1 switching functionality in each of the one or more layer 2 switches; creating a multicast group such that a Port.2 is added to the created multicast group in each of the one or more layer 2 switches; and providing an Access Control List (ACL) rule wherein when a condition is input Port.1 an action is to redirect to the created multicast group in each of the one or more layer 2 switches. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 14, wherein at least one of the one or more layer 2 switches are “bare metal” switches. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 14, further including disabling learning and routing functions in each of the one or more layer 2 switches. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 16, further including disabling forwarding functionality to decrease latency in each of the one or more layer 2 switches. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 17, further including enabling Small Form-Factor Pluggable Ports (SFPs) for Transmission (TX) and Reception (RX) in each of the one or more layer 2 switches. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 14, further including provide a lowest precedence ACL rule whereby condition is ALL PORTS and action is DENY ALL in each of the one or more layer 2 switches. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 14, further including: preventing VLAN filtering in each of the one or more layer 2 switches; and preventing packet dropping in each of the one or more layer 2 switches.