Distributed ring protocol and database
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorsDavid A. Carroll, John K. Fitzgerald, Kara J. Adams, Kenneth H. Potter, Jr., Gary William Kramling
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Abstract
A Distributed Ring Protocol (DRiP) arrangement includes a database and protocol for maintaining and distributing information within a distributed token ring (TR) bridge having a logical switch fabric that is distributed over a TR switching network of switches interconnected by trunk links, such as Inters witch Link (ISL) trunks. The DRiP information is used by switches within the ISL switched fabric to determine the status (configured and/or activated) and association (within a switch) of ports of the distributed bridge.
Claims45
A system for maintaining and distributing information within a distributed token ring (TR) bridge having a logical switch fabric that is distributed over a TR switching network of switches interconnected by trunk links, the system comprising:
- a database contained within each switch of the switch fabric, the database including virtual local area network (VLAN) identifiers (IDs) that map to ring numbers and their associated ports within each switch, the database further including indications as to status of the ports mapped to the VLAN IDs;
- and
- a protocol for distributing the information contained in the database among the switches of the fabric, the protocol defining a communication exchange of messages between the switches, wherein the messages comprise periodically-exchanged messages and specifically-issued messages, the specifically-issued messages being exchanged when there is a change in status of any VLAN ID.
A method for maintaining and distributing information within a distributed token ring (TR) bridge having a logical switch fabric that is distributed over a TR switching network of switches interconnected by trunk links, the method comprising the steps of:
- mapping virtual local area network (VLAN) identifiers (IDs) to ring numbers and their associated ports within a database of each switch in the switch fabric;
- providing indications in the database as to status of the ports mapped to the VLAN IDs;
- distributing the information contained in the database among the switches of the distributed TR bridge using a protocol that defines a communication exchange of messages between the switches, wherein the messages comprise periodically-exchanged messages and specifically-issued messages;
- and
- exchanging the specifically-issued messages when there is a change in status of any VLAN ID.
A switch apparatus, comprising:
- a database contained within said switch, said database holding data to implement a logical switch fabric over a distributed token ring network of switches, said database including virtual local area network (VLAN) identifiers (IDs) that map to token ring network ring numbers and their associated ports within each switch of said network of switches, the database further including indications as to status of the ports mapped to the VLAN IDs;
- and
- a protocol for distributing the information contained in the database among the switches of the fabric, the protocol defining a communication exchange of messages between the switches.
A method of operating a switch, comprising:
- holding data to implement a logical switch fabric over a distributed token ring network of switches in a database contained within said switch, said database including virtual local area network (VLAN) identifiers (IDs) that ring network ring numbers and their associated ports within each switch of said network of switches, the database further including indications as to status of the ports mapped to the VLAN IDs;
- and
- distributing, using a protocol, the information contained in the database among the switches of the fabric, the protocol defining a communication exchange of messages between the switches.
A switch apparatus, comprising:
- means for containing a database within said switch, said database holding data to implement a logical switch fabric over a distributed token ring network of switches, said database including virtual local area network (VLAN) identifiers (IDs) that map to token ring network ring numbers and their associated ports within each switch of said network of switches, the database further including indications as to status of the ports mapped to the VLAN IDs;
- and
- means for distributing, by a protocol, the information contained in the database among the switches of the fabric, the protocol defining a communication exchange of messages between the switches.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.