Method and apparatus for implementing a MAC address pool for assignment to a virtual interface aggregate
AssigneeNetwork Appliance, Inc.
InventorSushilKumar Gangadharan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method to implement an address pool is described. The method collects at least one address, the at least one address originally assigned as a unique address to at least one physical interface of a computer. Each originally assigned address is modified to be a plurality of modified addresses. The plurality of modified addresses is organized as an address pool. A selected modified address from the pool is assigned as a unique address for the pool. The selected modified address is used in contacting the computer in response to receiving a message addressed to an address of the pool.
Claims22
A method for implementing an address pool, comprising:
- collecting at least one address, the at least one address originally assigned as a unique address to at least one physical interface of a computer;
- modifying said each originally assigned address to be a plurality of modified addresses;
- organizing the plurality of modified addresses as the address pool;
- and
- assigning a selected modified address from the pool as a unique address for the pool, the selected modified address to use in contacting the computer in response to receiving a message addressed to an address of the pool.
A computer apparatus having a network adapter, the network adapter having an address, comprising:
- a processor coupled to the network adapter;
- an operating system executable by the processor, the operating system having a virtual interface process configured to collect addresses originally assigned to the network adapter, the virtual interface process modifying each originally assigned address by asserting a predetermined bit of the address to form a pool of modified addresses, and the virtual interface process to assign a selected modified address from the pool as a modified address for the computer.
A computer apparatus having a network adapter, the network adapter having at least one address, comprising:
- means for collecting the least one address, the at least one address originally assigned as a unique address to at least one physical interface of the computer;
- means for modifying said each originally assigned address to be a plurality of modified addresses;
- means for organizing the plurality of modified addresses as an address pool;
- and
- means for assigning a selected modified address from the pool as a unique address for the pool, the selected modified address to use in contacting the computer in response to receiving a message addressed to an address of the pool.
A computer readable media, comprising:
- said computer readable media containing instructions for execution on a processor for the practice of a method for implementing an address pool, the method having the steps of,
- collecting at least one address, the at least one address originally assigned as a unique address to at least one physical interface of a computer;
- modifying said each originally assigned address to be a plurality of modified addresses;
- organizing the plurality of modified address pool;
- and
- assigning a selected modified address from the pool as a unique address for the pool, the selected modified address to use in contacting the computer in response to receiving a message addressed to an address of the pool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.