Virtual local area network identifier translation in a packet-based network
OwnerAustin J. Hawthorne III, Usama Anqudinventors
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Abstract
A method and system for forwarding traffic through a network node involve translating a virtual local area network identifier (VLAN ID) of received VLAN traffic from an input VLAN ID to an output VLAN ID (or VLAN IDs) before the traffic is transmitted from the network node. In an embodiment, the input VLAN ID is different from the output VLAN ID. In an embodiment, VLAN ID translation occurs at port interfaces within the network node that receive incoming VLAN traffic. In an embodiment, each port interface can be configured to independently translate input VLAN IDs to output VLAN IDs and output ports.
Claims39
A method for forwarding traffic through a network node comprising:
- receiving traffic at said network node, said traffic that is received at said network node being identified by an input virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier (ID) as belonging to a first VLAN;
- translating said input VLAN ID to an output VLAN ID;
- and
- transmitting said traffic from said network node, said traffic that is transmitted from said network node being identified by said output VLAN ID as belonging to a second VLAN.
A network node comprising:
- an input port interface configured to receive traffic, said traffic that is received at said input port interface being identified by an input virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier (ID) as belonging to a first VLAN;
- a VLAN ID translation engine configured to translate said input VLAN ID to an output VLAN ID;
- and
- an output port interface configured to transmit said traffic, said traffic that is transmitted from said output port interface being identified by said output VLAN ID as belonging to a second VLAN.
A method for forwarding traffic through a service provider network node that is connected to receive traffic from multiple customers, said method comprising:
- receiving traffic from a customer at said service provider network node, said traffic that is received being identified by a customer-defined virtual local area (VLAN) identifier (ID) as belonging to a customer-defined VLAN;
- translating said customer-defined VLAN ID to a service provider-defined VLAN ID;
- and
- transmitting said traffic from said service provider network node, said traffic that is transmitted being identified by said service provider-defined VLAN ID as belonging to a service provider-defined VLAN.
A method for forwarding traffic through a network node using virtual local area networks (VLANs), wherein each VLAN is identified by a VLAN identifier (ID), each VLAN ID having a value within a set of values that is enabled by a fixed-length VLAN ID field, said method comprising:
- receiving first traffic at a first port interface of said network node, said first traffic being identified by a first input VLAN ID as belonging to a first VLAN, said first input VLAN ID being within a set of values that has port-specific uniqueness at said first port interface;
- receiving second traffic at a second port interface of said network node, said second traffic being identified by a second input VLAN ID as belonging to a second VLAN, said second input VLAN ID being within a set of values that has port-specific uniqueness at said second port interface;
- translating said first input VLAN ID to a first output VLAN ID and said second input VLAN ID to a second output VLAN ID, said first and second output VLAN IDs being within a set of values that has port-specific uniqueness at a third port interface of said network node;
- transmitting said first traffic from said third port interface, said first traffic that is transmitted being identified by said first output VLAN ID;
- and
- transmitting said second traffic from said third port interface, said second traffic that is transmitted being identified by said second output VLAN ID.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.