Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.P.

Hewlett-packard Company

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP

Ballard Claude Bare

Shaun Wakumoto

Cetin Ersoy

Bruce W Melvin

Daniel E Ford

Frank A Reichstein

Sarayu Srinivas Chandrapal

Scott A Gulland

Michael Patmon

Amit Green

A method of mirroring select traffic in a switching mesh. A packet is received at an edge switch of the switching mesh, and a determination is made as to whether the packet is to be mirrored based on mirroring criteria. A path tag associated with a path through the switching mesh is selected. The path tag is associated with a mirror path if the packet is to be mirrored. The path tag is added to the packet, and the tagged packet is forwarded to a next switch along the path. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Mesh mirroring with path tags

One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of configuring a traffic-associated path through a switching mesh. A source switch receives a request to associate a type of traffic to a specified path. The source switch is located at the beginning of the path. A path tag is allocated to the path. The path through the mesh is built, and the association between the type of traffic and the allocated path tag is programmed. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Switching mesh with user-configurable paths

Methods and devices are provided for memory management. One embodiment includes creating a memory control block including a number of sub-blocks, where the number of sub-blocks are capable of storing at least one data structure in a memory device. The method also includes scanning the control block for a free-able data structure having a defined data structure property, marking the free-able data structure as free-able in a bit map, and de-allocating the free-able data structure.

Memory management

A router programmed to function within an aggregation of a plurality of routers that appears as a single router externally is programmed to determine whether it is a first router in the aggregation of routers to receive a data packet. If the router is a first router in the aggregation of routers to receive a data packet, the router is programmed to perform layer 3 routing for the data packet including modification of the source and destination Media Access Control (MAC) addresses of the packet, and then transmit the packet to another router in the aggregation of routers for layer 2 switching of the packet. If the router is not a first router in the aggregation of routers to receive a data packet, the router is programmed to only perform layer 2 switching of the packet, with layer 3 routing for the data packet having already been performed by another router in the aggregation of routers.

Router aggregation

One embodiment described relates to an automated method of host discovery and path tracing by a network management server. The method includes discovery of a location in the network of a source host, discovery of a location in the network of a destination host, and discovery of a path from the source host to the destination host. Other embodiments are also described.

Automated host discovery and path tracing by network management server

One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of assuring integrity of a data set between multiple devices. A normalizing factor is generated at a first device. Based on the data set at the first device and the normalizing factor, a first integrity mechanism is calculated. The normalizing factor and the first integrity mechanism are sent from the first device to at least a second device. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Data set integrity assurance with reduced traffic

One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of connection-rate filtering. A rate of traffic through a port of a network device is measured. The measured traffic rate is compared with a pre-set threshold rate. Packets are sampled from the port over a period of time if the pre-set threshold rate is exceeded by the measured traffic rate, and the sampled packets are analyzed. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Method and apparatus for connection-rate filtering

One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of routing a packet by way of a router aggregation. A packet is received from outside the aggregation by an initially receiving router/switch unit. Router functions are performed by the initially receiving router unit, including modification of the packet. The packet is then sent to a layer 2 network of the aggregation, wherein switching functions are performed on the packet. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a cooperative aggregation of router/switch units. The aggregation includes a plurality of the router/switch units, and a switching network interconnecting the units. The cooperative aggregation functions as a single router from a perspective of an external network device coupled to the system.

Method and apparatus for router aggregation

One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of cost determination for paths between switches in a mesh. A set of paths between each pair of the mesh switches is defined, and start-up costs for the paths are calculated. The costs for the previously defined paths are subsequently recalculated using a directed cost protocol. The directed cost protocol may include generating at a first switch a cost packet with path information associated with a specific path, and unlasting the cost packet via the specific path to a second switch.

Directed cost protocol

Methods, computer readable media, and device embodiments are provided for port configuration. One method embodiment includes defining a number of ports for which a number of port configuration properties are to be configured, grouping the number of ports into one or more port configuration groups, and defining the number of port configuration properties to be configured within a particular port configuration group.

Port configuration

One embodiment disclosed relates to a switching system. The switching system includes first, second, and third sets of switches. The first set of switches is configured with a first instance of meshing software such that the switches in the first set are members of a first mesh domain. The second set of switches is configured with a second instance of the meshing software such that the switches in the second set are members of a second mesh domain. The third set of switches is configured with both the first and second instances of the meshing software such that the switches in the third set are members of both the first and second mesh domains. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a packet switch apparatus executing multiple instances of meshing software. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a method of configuring a switching system having multiple mesh domains.

Multiple-instance meshing

One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of handling oversubscribed ports between switches. An oversubscribed port is detected at a detecting switch. A set of paths exiting at the oversubscribed port is selected for retagging, and tags for the set of paths are invalidated. When packets with the invalidated tags are received, the received packets are retagged with a tag associated with a detour path. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a packet switch apparatus with oversubscribed port handling capability for use in a switching mesh. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a switching mesh including a capability to handle oversubscribed ports between switches.

Handling oversubscribed mesh ports with re-tagging

One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of handling link failures between switches. A failed link is detected at a detecting switch. The detecting switch determines a set of path tags whose paths are affected by the failed link. Subsequently, when packets are received with one of the path tags affected by the failed link, those packets are retagged with a detour path tag associated with a detour path circumventing the failed link. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a packet switch apparatus with link failure handling capability for use in a switching mesh. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a switching mesh including a capability to handle link failures.

Handling link failures with re-tagging

One embodiment relates to a method by a switch of tracing a broadcast path from the switch through a group of switches. A broadcast traceroute packet is issued with a first hop entry from each port within the broadcast path. Trace hop packets are received from hop switches within the broadcast path, and trace complete packets are received from end switches within the broadcast path. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Broadcast traceroute

In a packet-based switch, a method for managing data flow between the switch and other switches that are interconnected in a mesh network. The method includes receiving at the switch a topology inform packet sent from a first switch of the other switches. The topology inform packet includes at least an identifier of the first switch. The method also includes updating a link state database associated with the first switch. The link state database is configured for storing topology data pertaining to the mesh network. The method further includes forwarding the topology inform packet to at least another switch of the other switches to enable at least another switch to update a link state database associated with at least another switch.

Growing community of inventors

Auburn, CA, United States of America

Ballard Claude Bare