Method & apparatus for configuring a link aggregation group on a stacked switch
AssigneeForce10 Networks, Inc.
InventorsKrishnamurthy Subramanian, Janardhanan P. Narasimhan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Two network switches are configured in a stacked relationship to each other and include link aggregation sub-layer functionality. Switching tables are programmed on each switch with information used to forward packets ingressing to them over a redundant LAG that is identified in the switching table by a port that is a member of the redundant LAG.
Claims14
A method of forwarding a packet in a network switch comprising a logical switch configuration, comprising:
- a packet ingressing to the network switch on one port that is a member of a first redundant link aggregation group (LAG), and the network switch detecting a MAC DA in the header of the packet that is associated with a second redundant LAG;
- the network switch using the MAC DA as a lookup key into a switch table maintained on the network switch to identify an egress port that is on the same network switch, the egress port being a member of the second redundant LAG, the switch table not including the identity of the first or second redundant LAG;
- and
- forwarding the packet over the identified egress port.
A method of forwarding a packet in a network switch comprising a logical switch configuration, comprising:
- a packet ingressing to the network switch on one port and the network switch detecting a MAC DA in the header of the packet that is associated with a redundant LAG;
- the network switch using the MAC DA as a lookup key into a switch table maintained on the network switch to identify an egress port that is on the same network switch, the egress port being a member of the redundant LAG, the switch table not including the identity of the redundant LAG;
- and
- forwarding the packet over the identified egress port.
A logical network switch, comprising:
- a first and second network switch configured in a stacked relationship with respect to each other, each switch including a control module and at least one line card with one or more ports, only one port on each switch is configured to be a member of a redundant link aggregation group (LAG), each of the network switches include means for detecting MAC DA information in a packet ingressing to it, using the MAC DA information as a key to look up the identity of an egress port stored in switch table memory, the egress port being a member of the redundant LAG, and including means for forwarding a packet over the identified egress port to its correct destination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.