US 2011/0085568 A1 · MAPPING LOGICAL PORTS OF A NETWORK SWITCH TO PHYSICAL PORTS

Abstract

A Layer 2 network switch is partitionable into a plurality of switch fabrics. The single-chassis switch is partitionable into a plurality of logical switches, each associated with one of the virtual fabrics. The logical switches behave as complete and self-contained switches. A logical switch fabric can span multiple single-chassis switch chassis. Logical switches are connected by inter-switch links that can be either dedicated single-chassis links or logical links. An extended inter-switch link can be used to transport traffic for one or more logical inter-switch links. Physical ports of the chassis are assigned to logical switches and are managed by the logical switch. Legacy switches that are not partitionable into logical switches can serve as transit switches between two logical switches.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method of managing a network switch, comprising:

partitioning the network switch into a plurality of logical switches;
defining a logical port of a first logical switch of the plurality of logical switches, wherein the logical port is associated with a physical port of the network switch, the physical port assigned to another logical switch of the plurality of logical switches;
and
associating the logical port with a logical inter-switch link between the first logical switch and a second switch.

1 more element

A network switch, comprising:

a switch, partitionable into a plurality of logical switches, wherein each of the plurality of logical switches is a complete and self-contained network switch;
a processor;
a storage medium, connected to the processor;
a software, stored in the storage medium;
wherein the software, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform actions comprising:
adding a logical port to a first logical switch of the plurality of logical switches;
and
deleting the logical port from the first logical switch,
wherein the logical port is associated with a physical port of the network switch, the physical port assigned to another logical switch of the plurality of logical switches.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Mapping logical ports of a network switch to physical ports

Life of this patent

Mapping logical ports of a network switch to physical ports

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23