Cisco Technology, Inc.

Cisco Systems Inc.

Jimmy Philip Ervin

Sanjeev Debdutta Rampal

Steven J Faulkner

James Scott Alexander

Deepak Vig

Charles Allen Carriker

Praveen Bhagwatula

Richard Colbert Matlack, Jr

Russell Eugene Gardo

John T Lloyd

Cedell Adam Alexander, Jr

Michael Lewis Takefman

Parveen Bhagwatula

Norman William Finn

Michael R Smith

Alvaro E Retana

Russell Ivan White

Thomas Eric Ryle

Pramod Narottambhai Patel

Thomas E Black, Jr

Mike Takefman

Hoe Trinh

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 and apparatus for dynamically distributing traffic over links grouped together in a data transmission channel are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving data at the network device, distributing the data over a first array, mapping the first array to a second array having entries corresponding to the links, and measuring data traffic. The mapping between the first array and the second array is updated based on traffic measurements to balance traffic load over the links.

Dynamic link aggregation

A method for data communication across a layer 2 bridged network having two or more edge nodes configured for receiving and transmitting multiprotocol data packets. The method includes creating a pseudowire circuit across the bridged network, receiving data packets at one of the edge nodes, encapsulating data packets into pseudowire frames, encapsulating the pseudowire frames inside MAC frames, and transmitting the encapsulated frames over the carrier bridged network.

Method and system for transporting data using pseudowire circuits over a bridged network

A method and system for emulating an Ethernet link over a Sonet path to provide link integrity is disclosed. The method generally includes receiving an error code at a local Ethernet port upon detection of a link failure at a remote Ethernet port. The error code is received over a Sonet path in a Sonet path overhead. If the error code is still present after a specified period of time, the local Ethernet port is disabled. Methods for providing link stability and link availability are also disclosed.

Method and system for emulating an ethernet link over a sonet path

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

Techniques for implementing forwarding in network devices are provided. Proxy addresses are used in place of next hop addresses so that a large routing table is not required. Pairs of proxy IP and MAC addresses can be used to allow this optimization to occur completely transparent to any other device in the network. One or more smaller tables can be utilized in place of a large routing table to more efficiently implement forwarding. Additionally, the technique can be utilized without requiring modification of other hardware devices in the network.

Forwarding for network devices

A method for preventing loops in a ring topology of a computer network is disclosed. The method includes receiving a packet at a node on a shared packet ring and inserting a header containing an ID identifying the node at which the packet was received on the ring as an originating node. The packet is forwarded onto the ring and the ID is checked when received on a node. The packet is dropped if the ID identifies the node as the originating node.

Method and system for providing a loop-free ring topology

Mechanism for use in an internetworking device incorporating a translational bridging function to provide load balancing across multiple instances of the same destination address. Traffic originating with clients in the transparently bridged domain is distributed over multiple communication paths to the multiple instances of the destination address in the source route bridging domain. The internetworking device sends an explorer frame over each interface in the source route bridging domain to discover all parallel paths to the destination address. The internetworking device receives a response from each instance of the destination address over all possible paths. The routing information contained in the responses is used to create entries in a cache in the internetworking device. Load balancing is performed by using the source address of the transparently bridged clients as a key to select a specific path for each such client. Frames originating with different clients in the transparent bridging domain are then distributed over the selected paths to the same destination address.

Load balancing mechanism for a translational bridge environment

A communication network having a plurality of routers, each connected to host systems by LAN networks and interconnected by a switched network uses a shared or common IP and MAC address in the routers. Host systems on the same subnet use the shared or common IP address as their default gateway address when accessing host systems on another subnet.

Method for configuring distributed internet protocol gateways with LAN emulation

A communication network having a plurality of routers, each connected to a host system by a LAN network and interconnected by a switched network, the common network using a shared or common IP and MAC address in the routers forming a subnet. Host systems on the same subnet use the shared or common IP address as their default gateway address when accessing host systems on another subnet.

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Jimmy Philip Ervin