Generic switch architecture to support flexible subnets across layer-3 devices
US6765914B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 7, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 20, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 7, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L49/25
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is drawn to an system and a method for configuring subnets within a switch network that is typically comprised of switches and a router coupled together via a common shared bus. In one embodiment, a VLAN-defined (virtual local area network-defined) subnet is configured by mapping a subnet to a VLAN. All subnet members share a single VLAN ID irrespective of device boundaries of the switch network. In particular, in contrast to the span of a conventional subnet, the span of the VLAN-defined subnet is not required to be confined within a single switch's device boundary. As such, the present invention provides flexibility in configuring subnets. Moreover, an intra-VLAN packet forwarding mechanism is provided for said VLAN-defined subnet such that a packet can be transmitted between any two subnet members. This intra-VLAN packet forwarding mechanism avoids routing even when the VLAN-defined subnet spans more than one switch. Advantageously, packet transmission bottleneck found typically in the router is eliminated. Finally, in the presence of other of similarly configured VLAN-defined VLAN's, inter-VLAN packet forwarding can be provided flexibly with or without rou…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.