# US 2013/0111048 A1 · Full mesh optimization for spanning tree protocol > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0111048 A1 - Document ID: US20130111048A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/007,977 - Filed: 2011-01-17 - Published: 2013-05-02 - Earliest claimed: 2004-07-12 - Assignees: Oracle International Corporation - Inventors: Xiaoming Tong; Nakul Pratap Saraiya - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130111048A1 ## CPC - H04L 12/462: {LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone} - H04L 45/48: Routing tree calculation - H04L 45/76: Routing in software-defined topologies, e.g. routing between virtual machines - H04L 49/602: {Multilayer or multiprotocol switching, e.g. IP switching} - H04L 49/354: for supporting virtual local area networks [VLAN] - H04L 49/357: {Fibre channel switches} - H04Q 2213/13056: Routines, finite state machines - H04Q 2213/13106: Microprocessor, CPU - H04Q 2213/13204: Protocols - H04Q 2213/13389: LAN, internet - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) ## Abstract An optimized spanning tree protocol (OSTP) minimizes latency and provides high throughput in a full-mesh portion of a network, and is compatible with external networks where a standard spanning tree protocol is used. The OSTP enables traffic traversing the full-mesh portion to take a shortest path from source to destination through use of full-mesh connectivity. In some embodiments, a cluster includes a plurality of servers connected in a full mesh, and the OSTP is used on internal ports of the servers. In some embodiments, the OSTP is configured on a per-VLAN basis. In some embodiments, the servers exchange special messages enabling determination of full-mesh connectivity. In further embodiments, sending of the special messages is suppressed on certain port types, such as external ports. In some embodiments, determination of the full-mesh connectivity disables use of a standard spanning tree protocol and/or enables use of OSTP on the full-mesh portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (canceled) ### Claim 2 (canceled) ### Claim 3 (canceled) ### Claim 4 (canceled) ### Claim 5 (canceled) ### Claim 6 (canceled) ### Claim 7 (canceled) ### Claim 8 A method comprising: clustering a plurality of multi-chassis fabric-backplane enterprise servers into a full-mesh topology, the clustered plurality comprising a full-mesh enterprise server cluster providing one or more Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) therein; for each port of the full-mesh enterprise server cluster, identifying a type of the port as being a particular one of a set of port types including internal port, external port, and edge port, the external port and edge port types being non-internal ports of the full-mesh enterprise server cluster; within the full-mesh enterprise server cluster, for each VLAN, forwarding packets received from non-internal ports to all ports of the VLAN; and within the full-mesh enterprise server cluster, for each VLAN, forwarding packets received from internal ports to all non-internal ports of the VLAN as per a spanning tree protocol. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein each internal port is a fabric-backplane enterprise server port that is directly connected to another fabric-backplane enterprise server. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein each external port is a fabric-backplane enterprise server port that is connected to a device external to the full-mesh enterprise server cluster. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the device is a switch. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein each edge port is a fabric-backplane enterprise server port that is connected to a device that is not a fabric-backplane enterprise server. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the device is a server. ### Claim 14 A system comprising: a plurality of multi-chassis fabric-backplane enterprise servers clustered into a full-mesh topology, the clustered plurality comprising a full-mesh enterprise server cluster providing one or more Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) therein, each port of the full-mesh enterprise server cluster identified by a type of the port as being a particular one of a set of port types including internal port, external port, and edge port, the external port and edge port types being non-internal ports of the full-mesh enterprise server cluster wherein within the full-mesh enterprise server cluster, for each VLAN, forwarding packets received from non-internal ports to all ports of the VLAN and within the full-mesh enterprise server cluster, for each VLAN, forwarding packets received from internal ports to all non-internal ports of the VLAN as per a spanning tree protocol. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein each internal port is a fabric-backplane enterprise server port that is directly connected to another fabric-backplane enterprise server. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein each external port is a fabric-backplane enterprise server port that is connected to a device external to the full-mesh enterprise server cluster. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the device is a switch. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein each edge port is a fabric-backplane enterprise server port that is connected to a device that is not a fabric-backplane enterprise server. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the device is a server. ### Claim 20 A computer-readable memory device having stored therein a set of instructions which, when executed by a processor cause the processor to manage a full-mesh enterprise server cluster by: clustering a plurality of multi-chassis fabric-backplane enterprise servers into a full-mesh topology, the clustered plurality comprising the full-mesh enterprise server cluster providing one or more Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) therein; for each port of the full-mesh enterprise server cluster, identifying a type of the port as being a particular one of a set of port types including internal port, external port, and edge port, the external port and edge port types being non-internal ports of the full-mesh enterprise server cluster; within the full-mesh enterprise server cluster, for each VLAN, forwarding packets received from non-internal ports to all ports of the VLAN; and within the full-mesh enterprise server cluster, for each VLAN, forwarding packets received from internal ports to all non-internal ports of the VLAN as per a spanning tree protocol. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The computer-readable memory device of claim 20, wherein each internal port is a fabric-backplane enterprise server port that is directly connected to another fabric-backplane enterprise server. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The computer-readable memory device of claim 20, wherein each external port is a fabric-backplane enterprise server port that is connected to a device external to the full-mesh enterprise server cluster. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The computer-readable memory device of claim 22, wherein the device is a switch. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The computer-readable memory device of claim 20, wherein each edge port is a fabric-backplane enterprise server port that is connected to a device that is not a fabric-backplane enterprise server. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The computer-readable memory device of claim 24, wherein the device is a server.