Mechanism for enabling layer two host addresses to be shielded from the switches in a network
US8125996B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 5, 2010 |
| Grant date | Feb 28, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 5, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2101/622
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and systems for shielding layer two host addresses (e.g., MAC addresses) from a network are provided. According to one embodiment, a border component of a network of switches receives a first packet intended for a first host having a first L2 address and a first L3 address associated therewith. The first packet includes the first L3 address and a substitute L2 address as destination addresses. The substitute L2 address is associated with a communication channel of the border component. A data structure including information regarding an association between the first L3 address and the first L2 address is accessed by the border component. A determination is made that the destination L2 address for the first packet should be the first L2 address. A first updated packet is derived from the first packet by replacing the substitute L2 address with the first L2 address and sent to the first host.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.