System and method for unique identifier exchange during auto-negotiation
AssigneeBroadcom Corporation
InventorsWael William Diab, Patricia A. Thaler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for unique identifier exchange during auto-negotiation. Wired networks can include non-conformant bridges and/or repeaters that can erroneously forward link protocol frames such as LLDP. These present a problem for higher layer protocols that attempt to manage properties of the link. The unique identifiers exchanged during auto-negotiation can be passed up to higher layers for an integrity check of unique identifiers exchanged using higher layer protocols.
Claims20
A method in a first network device that enables network management of a link between said first network device and a second network device, said first network device coupled to said second network device via a network cable, comprising:
- accessing a first unique identifier that is generated for use by an auto-negotiation module in a first Open System Interconnection (OSI) Layer 1 physical layer device in said first network device;
- transmitting, by said first OSI Layer 1 physical layer device, said first unique identifier to a second OSI Layer 1 physical layer device in said second network device using a first next page message, said transmitting occurring during an auto-negotiation process that chooses common transmission parameters between said first OSI Layer 1 physical layer device and said second OSI Layer 1 physical layer device;
- receiving, by said first OSI Layer 1 physical layer device during said auto-negotiation process, a second unique identifier from said second OSI Layer 1 physical layer device in a second next page message;
- receiving a protocol message at an OSI layer higher than OSI Layer 1 in said first network device via said network cable, said protocol message including a third unique identifier;
- comparing said second unique identifier to said third unique identifier;
- and
- generating an alert if said comparison indicates that said second unique identifier is different than said third unique identifier, said generated alert preventing at least one property of said link from being changed.
A method in a first network device that enables network management of a link between said first network device and a second network device, said first network device coupled to said second network device via a network cable, comprising:
- during a physical layer auto-negotiation process wherein a first Open System Interconnection (OSI) Layer 1 physical layer device in said first network device chooses common transmission parameters with a second (OSI) Layer 1 physical layer device in said second network device, exchanging first unique identifiers between said first (OSI) Layer 1 physical layer device and said second (OSI) Layer 1 physical layer device;
- exchanging second unique identifiers using protocol messaging at an (OSI) layer higher than (OSI) Layer 1 over said network cable;
- determining whether one of said first unique identifiers and one of said second unique identifiers indicate that said exchange of first unique identifiers and said exchange of second unique identifiers occurred between the same set of network devices;
- and
- generating an alert if said determination indicates that said first unique identifiers and said second unique identifiers indicate that said exchange of first unique identifiers and said exchange of second unique identifiers occurred between a different set of network devices, said generated alert preventing at least one property of said link from being changed.
A first network device that enables network management of a link between said first network device and a second network device, said first network device coupled to said second network device via a network cable, comprising:
- a first Open System Interconnection (OSI) Layer 1 physical layer device, said first (OSI) Layer 1 physical layer device including an auto-negotiation module that enables said first (OSI) Layer 1 physical layer device to establish common transmission parameters with a second (OSI) Layer 1 physical layer device in said second network device, said auto-negotiation module having access to a first unique identifier, which is transmitted to said second (OSI) Layer 1 physical layer device during an auto-negotiation process, said auto-negotiation module also receiving during said auto-negotiation process, a second unique identifier from said second (OSI) Layer 1 physical layer device;
- and
- a controller that compares said second unique identifier with a third unique identifier included in a protocol message at an (OSI) layer higher than Layer 1 that is received via said network cable, said controller generating an alert if said comparison indicates that said second unique identifier is different than said third unique identifier, said generated alert preventing at least one property of said link from being changed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.