Cisco Technology, Inc.

James Scott Alexander

Jimmy Philip Ervin

Steven J Faulkner

Michael Lewis Takefman

Praveen Bhagwatula

Parveen Bhagwatula

Charles Allen Carriker

Russell Eugene Gardo

Mike Takefman

Methods and apparatus for eliminating loops associated with interconnects between clusters are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for operating a cluster of an interconnect group that includes at least one node and is in communication with a plurality of interconnects includes broadcasting a first frame on the interconnects. The method also includes receiving a second frame, the second frame being received on only a first interconnect, and blocking the second frame from being broadcast on the first interconnect. Finally, the method includes broadcasting the received second frame throughout the cluster such that no node in the cluster receives more than one copy of the second frame.

Method and apparatus for preventing loops in a network by controlling broadcasts

A method for providing inter-ring protection in shared packet rings includes identifying an active node which is connected to a ring interconnect node on the same ring as the active node and connected to a peer node on a different ring with a ring interconnecting link. When the active node is in active mode and receives notification of a failure of the ring interconnecting link or peer node, the active node sends a message to the ring interconnect node so that the ring interconnect node switches from standby mode to active mode. The active node is then changed to standby mode.

Inter-ring protection for shared packet rings

Techniques for load balancing network traffic over virtual point-to-point data links at a data-link layer include determining a particular group of virtual point-to-point data links that reach a particular local area network of one or more network nodes. A particular data-link address for a particular node of the particular local area network is associated with each virtual point-to-point data link of the particular group. When a data packet is received that includes data that indicates the particular data-link address as a destination; one virtual point-to-point data link of the group is determined to balance traffic among the group. The data packet is sent only over the one virtual point-to-point data link. These techniques enable virtual point-to-point data links through two or more intermediate network nodes, such as a pair of provider edge nodes, to be bundled for load balancing purposes.

Method and apparatus for load balancing over virtual network links

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Raleigh, NC, United States of America

James Scott Alexander