Virtual Chassis Topology Management
AssigneeAlcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
InventorPramoda V. Nallur
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Topology management within a virtual chassis is achieved by communicating virtual chassis topology information between switches within the virtual chassis within protocol extensions of customized protocol data units (PDUs) associated with a VC-ISIS protocol. The virtual chassis topology information can be used, for example, to detect the topology of the virtual chassis and generate a shortest path tree within each switch of the virtual chassis for use in routing between switches within the virtual chassis.
Claims20
A switch within a virtual chassis including at least two switches, the switch comprising:
- a plurality of virtual fabric link (VFL) ports coupled to a VFL, wherein the VFL interconnects each of the at least two switches within the virtual chassis to enable the at least two switches to operate as a single logical switch;
- a processor for:
- receiving a customized protocol data unit (PDU) from an additional switch within the virtual chassis via one of the VFL ports,
- extracting virtual chassis topology information from protocol extensions within the PDU, and
- using the virtual chassis topology information to detect a topology of the virtual chassis and generate a shortest path tree for use in routing within the virtual chassis.
A non-transitory memory device having tangibly embodied thereon and accessible therefrom a set of instructions interpretable by at least one processor, the set of instructions configured for causing the processor to carry out operations for:
- receiving customized protocol data units (PDUs) from switches within a virtual chassis at a receiving one of the switches via one of a plurality of VFL ports, the plurality of VFL ports being coupled to a VFL, wherein the VFL interconnects each of the switches within the virtual chassis to enable the switches to operate as a single logical switch;
- extracting virtual chassis topology information from protocol extensions within the customized PDUs;
- and
- using the virtual chassis topology information to detect a topology of the virtual chassis and generate a shortest path tree for use in routing between the switches within the virtual chassis.
A method for topology management within a virtual chassis, comprising:
- receiving customized protocol data units (PDUs) from switches within the virtual chassis at a receiving one of the switches via one of a plurality of VFL ports, the plurality of VFL ports being coupled to a VFL, wherein the VFL interconnects each of the switches within the virtual chassis to enable the switches to operate as a single logical switch;
- extracting virtual chassis topology information from protocol extensions within the customized PDUs;
- and
- using the virtual chassis topology information to detect a topology of the virtual chassis and generate a shortest path tree for use in routing between the switches within the virtual chassis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.