Architecture for managing traffic in a virtual LAN environment

For a network including a set of local area network (LAN) segments, an asynchronous transfer mode backbone path operating in a LAN emulation mode, and a plurality of edge devices interconnecting the plurality of LAN segments with the backbone path, and in which nodes on respective LAN segments in the set are members of logical networks defined in layer three or higher, a method for managing traffic in the network, comprising:

• detecting in an edge device on an originating LAN segment, a multi-destination packet intended for members of a particular logical network, in response to a medium access control MAC address in the multi-destination packet;
• producing in response to the detected multi-destination packet, a plurality of directed messages for nodes authorized to receive multi-destination packets of particular logical network;
• forwarding across respective virtual channels in the backbone path the plurality of directed messages to edge devices coupled to LAN segments through which the authorized nodes are accessible;
• and
• supplying the multi-destination packet in response to the directed messages, from the edge devices receiving the directed messages, to LAN segments, other than the originating LAN segment, through which authorized nodes are accessible.

For a network including a set of local area network (LAN) segments, a backbone path, and a plurality of edge devices interconnecting the plurality of LAN segments with the backbone path, and in which nodes on respective LAN segments in the set are members of logical networks defined in layer three or higher, a method for managing traffic in the network, comprising:

• detecting in response to a medium access control MAC address of a packet received at an edge device, a multi-destination packet originating from a particular LAN segment;
• determining the logical network of the multi-destination packet;
• translating the multi-destination packet to a plurality of directed messages carrying information from the multi-destination packet;
• forwarding across the backbone path the plurality of directed messages to edge devices;
• and
• supplying the multi-destination packet in response to the directed messages from the edge devices receiving the directed messages to LAN segments through which nodes authorized to receive multi-destination packets from members of the determined logical network are accessible, except for the particular LAN segment on which the multi-destination packet originated.

For a network including a set of local area network (LAN) segments, an asynchronous transfer mode backbone path operating in a LAN emulation mode, and a plurality of edge devices interconnecting the plurality of LAN segments with the backbone path, and in which nodes on respective LAN segments in the set are members of logical networks defined in layer three or higher, a method for managing traffic in the network, comprising:

• detecting in a first edge device on an originating LAN segment, a multi-destination packet intended for members of a particular logical network, in response to a medium access control MAC address in the multi-destination packet, the edge device having ports coupled to the originating LAN segment and at least one additional LAN segment in the set;
• first supplying the detected multi-destination packet out ports of the first edge device, other that the port coupled to the originating LAN segment, through which nodes authorized to receive messages from members of the particular logical network are accessible;
• forwarding from the first edge device, the multi-destination packet across a virtual channel in the backbone path to a server;
• producing in the server in response to the detected multi-destination packet, a plurality of directed messages for edge devices on the backbone path;
• forwarding across respective virtual channels in the backbone path the plurality of directed messages to edge devices coupled to LAN segments through which the authorized nodes are accessible;
• and
• second supplying the multi-destination packet in response to the directed messages, from edge devices receiving the directed messages, to LAN segments, other than LAN segments on the first edge device, through which authorized nodes are accessible.