Method and apparatus for transparently bridging traffic across wide area networks

A method for logically connecting communications networks (CNs) interconnected by network components, the method comprising:

• selecting a plurality of network components to provide tunnels between CNs, said selected plurality of network components being referred to as tunnelers;
• electing a unique designated tunneler for each CN for which tunneling is to be provided, with each CN having no more than one designated tunneler and a single tunneler being designated by one CN;
• configuring the designated tunneler by supplying the designated tunneler with the identities of other designated tunnelers and the identities of ports through which the other tunnelers are connected to CNs with which they are associated;
• establishing at least one tunnel between at least two of said designated tunnelers, by transmitting a greeting from a first designated tunneler to each other tunneler that is a potential tunnel endpoint, receiving a message from one of the potential tunnel endpoints confirming that a tunnel is established, and recording that a tunnel has been established;
• and
• selectively forwarding message traffic through the established tunnel, from one CN to another CN by appending to a message a destination address that includes the address of a receiving endpoint tunneler of the tunnel, and also includes a port identifier that defines, in part, the receiving endpoint of the tunnel.

Apparatus for logically connecting communications networks (CNs) interconnected by network components, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of network components disposed between interconnected CNs, said plurality of network components being referred to as tunnelers;
• means for electing a unique designated tunneler for each CN from a corresponding one of said plurality of tunnelers for which tunneling is to be provided, with each CN having no more than one designated tunneler and a single tunneler being designated by one CN;
• means responsive to information identifying other tunnelers, for configuring the tunnelers with which a tunnel is established;
• means responsive to messages exchanged between at least two tunnelers, for establishing at least one tunnel between said at least two tunnelers;
• and
• means contained within each tunneler, for selectively forwarding message traffic through the established tunnel, from one CN to another CN by appending to a message a destination address that includes an address of a receiving endpoint tunneler of the tunnel, and also includes a port identifier that defines, in part, the receiving endpoint of the tunnel.