Method and system for improving traffic operation in an internet environment

A method for improving traffic operation over a network comprising the steps of:

• a. pushing a first packet to be sent from a source host to a target host over a first LAN connected to the source host and a router;
• b. reading an IP table at the router to locate the target host on a second LAN connected to the router in response to the pushing of the first packet;
• c. running an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) over the second LAN to obtain a MAC address for the target host;
• d. storing the MAC address for the target host into a transparent bridging table at the router;
• e. reconfiguring the router into a proxy address resolution protocol system to simulate that it is the target host, sending the first packet over the second LAN to the target host and sending an Internet Control Message Protocol message over the first LAN to update a routing table in hosts connected to the first LAN with the address of the target host;
• f. when a second packet is sent from the source host to the target host running an address resolution protocol over the first network, with the router answering with the MAC address for the target host and the source sending said second packet to the MAC address of the target host over the first network with the router bridging;
• and
• g. running said ARP protocols on a predefined time basis and, if ARP fails, then performing the following operations:
• deleting from the routing table, the ICMP redirect added entry to the lost IP address;
• having the router remove all the bridge entries to the failed resource;
• if a route still exists to the target, then keeping the router recognizing the MAC address but performing backup routing for a next packet, then cleaning the table entry at next time reference;
• stop providing Proxy ARP;
• and
• sending a conventional ICMP redirect over the network from which a bridge existed to the failed resource, now providing the next hop indirect route found in the routing table.

A communications system comprising:

• a first network including a first host;
• a second network including a second host;
• a coupling device connected between the first and second network for transmitting packets between the first host and the second host, said coupling device having:
• an IP table which locates the second host on the second network when the coupling device receives a packet from the first host intended for the second host;
• a message generator for creating an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) message over the second network to obtain a Media Access Control (MAC) address for the second host;
• a storage for the MAC address of the second host;
• and a message generator to update hosts on the first network with the address for the second host on the second network whereby a next packet being sent from the first host to the second host is addressed with the MAC address for the second host with the coupling device bridging.

A method for operating a router comprising the steps of:

• receiving a first packet from a source host connected to a first LAN, said first LAN being connected to said router;
• forwarding said first packet to a target host connected to a second LAN, said second LAN reachable from said router;
• running an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) over said second LAN to obtain a media access control (MAC) address for said target host,
• storing said MAC address for said target host into a transparent bridging table at said router;
• sending the MAC address to said source host;
• and
• when a second packet having said MAC address as a target address is received from said source host, bridging said second packet to said target host.

A router comprising:

• a first interface to a first network, said first network including a first host;
• a second interface which can reach a second network, said second network including a second host, said first and second interfaces allow for transmitting of packets between said first host and said second host;
• a message generator for creating an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) message to said second network to obtain a Media Access Control (MAC) address for said second host;
• a storage for said MAC address of said second host;
• and
• a message generator to update said first host on said first network with said MAC address for said second host, whereby a next packet being sent from said first host to said second host has said MAC address for said second host, and said router responding to said MAC address of said second host by routing said next packet to said second host.

Apparatus for improving traffic operation over a network comprising:

• means for forwarding a first packet from a source host to a target host over a first LAN connected to said source host and a router;
• means for running an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) over said second LAN to obtain a media access control (MAC) address for said target host,
• means for storing said MAC address for said target host into a transparent bridging table at said router;
• and
• when a second packet is sent from said source host to said target host including said MAC address as a target address, means for said router routing, in response to said MAC address in said second packet, said second packet to said target host.