Preventing packet loops in unified networks

A mobility switch for loop prevention in a unified split-plane mobility domain comprising:

• an interface configured to identify a topology of unified switches for transporting message traffic, the message traffic defined by packets;
• a set of ports associated to links between the unified switches for forwarding message traffic packets, the links defined by ports on the unified switches;
• forwarding logic for computing, based on a destination, at least one port corresponding to the destination, each of the links corresponding to a virtual tunnel or a physical connection and accessible via a port on the unified switch;
• a set of rules configured for determining, at a unified switch forwarding a packet to a destination, when forwarding on a particular port causes a potential loop back to the forwarding switch;
• and
• the forwarding logic configured to identify, in response to the determined potential loop, a loop rule identifying VLAN membership resulting in multiple forwarding ports causing the potential loop, the loop rule indicative of another port for forwarding to the destination, forward the packet on the port indicated by the loop rule, the indicated port corresponding to a different one of a tunnel or a physical port than the particular port causing the loop.

A computer program product having computer program code encoded as a set of instructions on a non-transient computer readable storage medium that, when executed by a processor, cause the computer to perform a method for managing a split-plane wireless network, the method comprising:

• identifying a topology of unified switches for transporting message traffic, the message traffic defined by packets;
• identifying a set of links between the unified switches for forwarding message traffic packets, the links defined by ports on the unified switches;
• computing, based on a destination, at least one port corresponding to the destination, each of the links corresponding to a virtual tunnel or a physical connection and accessible via a port on the unified switch;
• determining, at a unified switch forwarding a packet to a destination, when forwarding on a particular port causes a loop back to the forwarding switch;
• identifying, in response to the determined loop, a loop rule, the loop rule indicative of another port for forwarding to the destination;
• and
• forwarding the packet on the port indicated by the loop rule, the indicated port corresponding to a different one of a tunnel or a physical port than the particular port causing the loop.