Layer two encryption for data center interconnectivity

US8271775B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Cisco Technology, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Sudhakar Shenoy · Bengaluru, IN
• Khalil A. Jabr · Lake Oswego, US
• Sridar Kandaswamy · San Jose, US
• Madhusudanan Manohar · Fremont, US
• Sandeep Hebbani · Bengaluru, IN

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 17, 2008
• Grant date: Sep 18, 2012
• Expiry date: May 25, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04L63/0428
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with layer two (L2) encryption for data center interconnectivity are described. One example system includes a receive logic to receive an unencrypted L2 switched frame (UL2SF). The UL2SF may include a payload and an L2 header. The example system may also include an encryption logic to selectively encrypt the UL2SF into an encrypted frame if the UL2SF is to be sent through an L2 virtual private network (L2VPN) requiring encryption. The example system may also include a delivery logic that adds a header to the encrypted frame. The header may include data to identify a decryption function to decrypt the encrypted frame and routing information for the encrypted frame. The delivery logic may also provide the encrypted frame to the L2VPN, where the providing includes selectively sending the encrypted frame as one of, a point to point packet, and a multipoint packet.