US 8,798,055 B1Granted

Forming a multi-device layer 2 switched fabric using internet protocol (IP)-routed / switched networks

AssigneeJuniper Networks, Inc.

InventorYafan An

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Abstract

A network device associates a first node prefix with first network devices provided in a first network, associates a second node prefix with second network devices provided in a second network, and associates a third node prefix with third network devices provided in a third network. The network device advertises the first node prefix to the second and third networks, advertises the second node prefix to the first and third networks, and advertises the third node prefix to the first and second networks.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

determining, by a network device, that the network device connects to one or more other network devices in a first network;
determining, by the network device, that the network device connects to one or more other network devices in at least one of a second network or a third network;
associating, by the network device and based on determining that the network device connects to one or more other network devices in the first network and connects to one or more other network devices in at least one of the second network or the third network, a first node prefix with a first plurality of network devices provided in the first network,
the first node prefix including:
a first unique area identifier, and
a first prefix length;
associating, by the network device, a second node prefix with a second plurality of network devices provided in the second network,
the second node prefix including:
a second unique area identifier,
the second unique area identifier being different than the first unique area identifier, and
a second prefix length;
associating, by the network device, a third node prefix with a third plurality of network devices provided in the third network,
the third node prefix including:
a third unique area identifier,
the third unique area identifier being different than the first unique area identifier and being different than the second unique area identifier, and
a third prefix length;
advertising, by the network device, the first node prefix to the second network and the third network;
advertising, by the network device, the second node prefix to the first network and the third network;
advertising, by the network device, the third node prefix to the first network and the second network;
selecting, by the network device, a node address for a default network associated with the network device;
determining, by the network device, whether an additional network is associated with the network device;
selecting, by the network device and when the additional network is associated with the network device, a pseudo node address for the additional network;
and
propagating, by the network device, the node address and the selected pseudo node address to at least one of the first network, the second network, or the third network.

21 more elements

A network device comprising:

a processor to:
determine that the network device connects to one or more other network devices in a first network;
determine that the network device connects to one or more other network devices in at least one of a second network or a third network;
associate, based on determining that the network device connects to one or more other network devices in the first network and connects to one or more other network devices in at least one of the second network or the third network, a first node prefix with a first plurality of network devices provided in the first network,
the first node prefix including:
a first unique area identifier, and
a first prefix length;
associate a second node prefix with a second plurality of network devices provided in the second network,
the second node prefix including:
a second unique area identifier,
the second unique area identifier being different than the first unique area identifier, and
a second prefix length;
associate a third node prefix with a third plurality of network devices provided in the third network,
the first network, the second network, and the third network being separate from each other, and
the third node prefix including:
a third unique area identifier,
the third unique area identifier being different than the first unique area identifier and being different than the second unique area identifier, and
a third prefix length;
advertise the first node prefix to the second network and the third network;
advertise the second node prefix to the first network and the third network;
advertise the third node prefix to the first network and the second network;
select a node address for a default network associated with the network device;
determine whether an additional network is associated with the network device;
select, when the additional network is associated with the network device, a pseudo node address for the additional network;
and
propagate the node address and the selected pseudo node address to at least one of the first network, the second network, or the third network.

23 more elements

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

one or more instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a network device, cause the at least one processor to:
determine that the network device connects to one or more other network devices in a first network;
determine that the network device connects to one or more other network devices in at least one of a second network or a third network;
associate, based on determining that the network device connects to one or more other network devices in the first network and connects to one or more other network devices in at least one of the second network or the third network, a first node prefix with a first plurality of network devices provided in the first network,
the first node prefix including:
a first unique area identifier, and
a first prefix length;
associate a second node prefix with a second plurality of network devices provided in the second network,
the second node prefix including:
a second unique area identifier,
the second unique area identifier being different than the first unique area identifier, and
a second prefix length;
associate a third node prefix with a third plurality of network devices provided in the third network,
the third node prefix including:
a third unique area identifier,
the third unique area identifier being different than the first unique area identifier and being different than the second unique area identifier, and
a third prefix length;
advertise the first node prefix to the second network and the third network;
advertise the second node prefix to the first network and the third network;
advertise the third node prefix to the first network and the second network;
select a node address for a default network associated with the network device;
determine whether an additional network is associated with the network device;
select, when the additional network is associated with the network device, a pseudo node address for the additional network;
and
propagate the node address and the selected pseudo node address to at least one of the first network, the second network, or the third network.

22 more elements

A system comprising:

a network device to:
determine that the network device connects to one or more other network devices in a first network;
determine that the network device connects to one or more other network devices in at least one of a second network or a third network;
associate, based on determining that the network device connects to one or more other network devices in the first network and connects to one or more other network devices in at least one of the second network or the third network, a first node prefix with a first plurality of network devices provided in the first network,
the first node prefix including:
a first unique area identifier, and
a first prefix length;
associate a second node prefix with a second plurality of network devices provided in the second network,
the second node prefix including:
a second unique area identifier,
the second unique area identifier being different than the first unique area identifier, and
a second prefix length;
associate a third node prefix with a third plurality of network devices provided in the third network,
the third node prefix including:
a third unique area identifier,
the third unique area identifier being different than the first unique area identifier and being different than the second unique area identifier, and
a third prefix length;
advertise the first node prefix to the second network and the third network;
advertise the second node prefix to the first network and the third network;
advertise the third node prefix to the first network and the second network;
select a node address for a default network associated with the network device;
determine whether an additional network is associated with the network device;
select, when the additional network is associated with the network device, a pseudo node address for the additional network;
and
propagate the node address and the selected pseudo node address to at least one of the first network, the second network, or the third network.

22 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

patentgrep

Loading patent…

Abstract

A method comprising:

determining, by a network device, that the network device connects to one or more other network devices in a first network;
determining, by the network device, that the network device connects to one or more other network devices in at least one of a second network or a third network;
associating, by the network device and based on determining that the network device connects to one or more other network devices in the first network and connects to one or more other network devices in at least one of the second network or the third network, a first node prefix with a first plurality of network devices provided in the first network,
the first node prefix including:
a first unique area identifier, and
a first prefix length;
associating, by the network device, a second node prefix with a second plurality of network devices provided in the second network,
the second node prefix including:
a second unique area identifier,
the second unique area identifier being different than the first unique area identifier, and
a second prefix length;
associating, by the network device, a third node prefix with a third plurality of network devices provided in the third network,
the third node prefix including:
a third unique area identifier,
the third unique area identifier being different than the first unique area identifier and being different than the second unique area identifier, and
a third prefix length;
advertising, by the network device, the first node prefix to the second network and the third network;
advertising, by the network device, the second node prefix to the first network and the third network;
advertising, by the network device, the third node prefix to the first network and the second network;
selecting, by the network device, a node address for a default network associated with the network device;
determining, by the network device, whether an additional network is associated with the network device;
selecting, by the network device and when the additional network is associated with the network device, a pseudo node address for the additional network;
and
propagating, by the network device, the node address and the selected pseudo node address to at least one of the first network, the second network, or the third network.

21 more elements