# US 2013/0156028 A1 · System and Method for Input/Output Virtualization using Virtualized Switch Aggregation Zones

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- Number: US 2013/0156028 A1
- Document ID: US20130156028A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/331,450
- Filed: 2011-12-20
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20
- Assignees: Dell Products L.P.
- Inventors: Hendrich M. Hernandez; Gaurav Chawla; Robert L. Winter
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156028A1

## CPC

- H04L 12/4641: {Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] (LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272)}
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

A network switch includes a first network port, a second network port, and a port virtualization module associated with the first network port. The port virtualization module determines that a device coupled to the first network port includes a first virtual network interface and provides a second virtual network interface on the first network port. The second virtual network interface is associated with the first virtual network interface. The network switch provides an aggregation zone including the second network port, the first virtual network interface, and the second virtual network interface.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A network switch, comprising:
a first network port;
a second network port; and
a first port virtualization module associated with the first network port, the first port virtualization module operable to:
determine that a first device coupled to the first network port includes a first virtual network interface; and
provide a second virtual network interface on the first network port, the second virtual network interface being associated with the first virtual network interface;
wherein the network switch is operable to provide a first aggregation zone including the second network port, the first virtual network interface, and the second virtual network interface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The network switch of claim 1, wherein further:
the first port virtualization module is operable to:
determine that a second device coupled to the first network port includes a third virtual network interface; and
provide a fourth virtual network interface on the first network port, the fourth virtual network interface being associated with the third virtual network interface; and
the network switch is operable to add the third virtual network interface and the fourth virtual network interface to the first aggregation zone.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The network switch of claim 1, further comprising:
a third network port;
a fourth network port; and
a second port virtualization module associated with the third network port, the second port virtualization module operable to:
determine that a second device coupled to the third network port includes a third virtual network interface; and
provide a fourth virtual network interface on the third network port, the fourth virtual network interface being associated with the third virtual network interface;
wherein the network switch is further operable to provide a second aggregation zone including the fourth network port, the third virtual network interface, and the fourth virtual network interface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The network switch of claim 3, wherein further:
the second port virtualization module is operable to:
determine that a third device coupled to the third network port includes a fifth virtual network interface; and
provide a sixth virtual network interface on the third network port, the sixth virtual network interface being associated with the fifth virtual network interface;
wherein the network switch is further operable add the fifth virtual network interface and the sixth virtual network interface to the first aggregation zone.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The network switch of claim 1, further comprising:
a third network port;
wherein the network switch is further operable to add the third network port to the first aggregation zone.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The network switch of claim 1, wherein the first virtual network interface is a virtual network interface card, and the second virtual network interface is a virtual port.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The network switch of claim 1, wherein the first virtual network interface is a first virtual local area network and the second virtual network interface is a second virtual local area network.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The network switch of claim 7, wherein the second network port includes a third virtual local area network.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The network switch of claim 8, wherein the first and second virtual local area networks are source virtual local area networks, and the third virtual local area network is a client virtual local area network.

### Claim 10

A method of providing aggregation zones in a network switch, comprising:
determining that a first device coupled to a first network port of the network switch includes a first virtual network interface;
providing a second virtual network interface on the first network port, the second virtual network interface being associated with the first virtual network interface; and
providing a first aggregation zone on the network switch, the first aggregation zone including a second network port of the network switch, the first virtual network interface, and the second virtual network interface.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising:
determining that a second device coupled to the first network port includes a third virtual network interface;
providing a fourth virtual network interface on the first network port, the fourth virtual network interface being associated with the third virtual network interface; and
adding the third virtual network interface and the fourth virtual network interface to the first aggregation zone.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising:
determining that a second device coupled to a third network port of the network switch includes a third virtual network interface;
providing a fourth virtual network interface on the third network port, the fourth virtual network interface being associated with the third virtual network interface; and
providing a second aggregation zone on the network switch, the second aggregation zone including a fourth network port of the network switch, the third virtual network interface, and the fourth virtual network interface.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
determining that a third device coupled to the third network port includes a fifth virtual network interface;
providing a sixth virtual network interface on the third network port, the sixth virtual network interface being associated with the fifth virtual network interface; and
adding the fifth virtual network interface and the sixth virtual network interface to the first aggregation zone.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising:
adding a third network port of the network switch to the first aggregation zone.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the first virtual network interface is a virtual network interface card, and the second virtual network interface is a virtual port.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein:
the first virtual network interface is a first virtual local area network;
the second virtual network interface is a second virtual local area network; and
the second port includes a third virtual local area network.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second virtual local area networks are source virtual local area networks, and the third virtual local area network is a client virtual local area network.

### Claim 18

A non-transitory storage medium including instructions for carrying out a method, the method comprising:
determining that a first device coupled to a first network port of the network switch includes a first virtual network interface;
providing a second virtual network interface on the first network port, the second virtual network interface being associated with the first virtual network interface; and
providing a first aggregation zone on the network switch, the first aggregation zone including a second network port of the network switch, the first virtual network interface, and the second virtual network interface.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The storage medium of claim 18, the method further comprising:
determining that a second device coupled to the first network port includes a third virtual network interface;
providing a fourth virtual network interface on the first network port, the fourth virtual network interface being associated with the third virtual network interface; and
adding the third virtual network interface and the fourth virtual network interface to the first aggregation zone.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The storage medium of claim 18, the method further comprising:
determining that a second device coupled to a third network port of the network switch includes a third virtual network interface;
providing a fourth virtual network interface on the third network port, the fourth virtual network interface being associated with the third virtual network interface; and
providing a second aggregation zone on the network switch, the second aggregation zone including a fourth network port of the network switch, the third virtual network interface, and the fourth virtual network interface.