# US 8,787,152 B2 · Virtual switch interconnect for hybrid enterprise servers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,787,152 B2 - Document ID: US8787152B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/668,612 - Filed: 2012-11-05 - Published: 2013-03-21 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-29 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Casimer M. DeCusatis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8787152B2 ## CPC - H04L 12/44: Star or tree networks - H04L 12/462: {LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone} - H04L 41/0813: characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings - H04L 41/0823: characterised by the purposes of a change of settings, e.g. optimising configuration for enhancing reliability (for optimising operational conditions of wireless networks H04W24/02) - H04L 49/356: for storage area networks - H04L 49/65: Re-configuration of fast packet switches - H04L 49/70: {Virtual switches} - H04L 41/0895: Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Virtual switch interconnect for hybrid enterprise servers including a system for network configuration. The system includes a first processor coupled to a second processor via a network. The network includes a plurality of switches and links between the switches to offload processing from the first processor to the second processor. The switches include at least one virtual switch. The first processor is configured to perform a method that includes receiving network configuration data and switch state information for the network. It is detected that a first link and a second link provide two different paths between two of the switches. The first link is selected, at the computer, as a primary link based on contents of the network configuration data. The second link is deactivated in response to the selecting. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for network configuration, the system comprising: a first processor coupled to a second processor via a network, the network comprising a plurality of switches and links between the switches to offload processing from the first processor to the second processor, wherein at least one of the plurality of switches corresponds to an Internet Protocol version six address, the first processor configured to perform a method comprising: receiving network configuration data and switch state information for the network; detecting that a first link and a second link provide two different paths between two of the switches; selecting the first link as a primary link, the selecting responsive to the network configuration data; deactivating the second link in response to the selecting; and verifying a verified lifetime value associated with the address. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the switch state information indicates that a primary link has been repaired and re-activated, and responsive to the indication, the method further comprise: locating a back-up link corresponding to the primary link, the locating in response to at least one of the network configuration data and the switch state information; and deactivating the back-up link in response to the selecting. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the switch state information indicates that a configuration of the network has been updated, and responsive to the indication, the method further comprises: routing data to a new root switch responsive to contents of at least one of the network configuration data and the switch state information indicating that the new root switch has been added to the network; and routing data to an existing root switch responsive contents of at least one of the network configuration data and the switch state information indicating that one of the plurality of existing root switches has been removed from the network and that the existing root switch remains in the network. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the network in an Ethernet network. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the network is a converged enhanced Ethernet (CEE) network. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the switch state information is rapid spanning tree protocol (RSTP) data. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first processor is an enterprise server. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second processor is an Intel x86 server. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the network has a tree structure and the two of the switches are root switches. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the network configuration data comprises a machine address code (MAC) address that has been moved between network devices and the method further comprises transmitting a gratuitous address resolution protocol to accelerate movement of the MAC address. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein RSTP is disabled for at least one of the plurality of switches and enabled for at least one of the plurality of switches. ### Claim 12 A system for network configuration, the system comprising: a first processor coupled to a second processor via a network, the network comprising a plurality of switches and links between the switches to offload processing from the first processor to the second processor, the first processor configured to perform a method comprising: receiving network configuration data and switch state information for the network, wherein the network configuration data comprises a machine address code (MAC) address that has been moved between network devices; detecting that a first link and a second link provide two different paths between two of the switches; selecting the first link as a primary link, the selecting responsive to the network configuration data; deactivating the second link in response to the selecting; and transmitting a gratuitous address resolution protocol to accelerate movement of the MAC address. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the switch state information is rapid spanning tree protocol (RSTP) data, and wherein RSTP is disabled for at least one of the plurality of switches and enabled for at least one of the plurality of switches. ### Claim 14 A system for network configuration, the system comprising: a first processor coupled to a second processor via a network, the network comprising a plurality of switches and links between the switches to offload processing from the first processor to the second processor, the first processor configured to perform a method comprising: receiving network configuration data and switch state information for the network, wherein the switch state information is rapid spanning tree protocol (RSTP) data, and wherein RSTP is disabled for at least one of the plurality of switches and enabled for at least one of the plurality of switches; detecting that a first link and a second link provide two different paths between two of the switches; selecting the first link as a primary link, the selecting responsive to the network configuration data; and deactivating the second link in response to the selecting.