Cisco Technology, Inc.

Thomas E Black, Jr

Carmel Chi Him Lau

Michael F Davis

Jimmy Philip Ervin

Jim Philip Ervin

Charles Allen Carriker

Sanjeev Debdutta Rampal

Praveen Bhagwatula

Steven J Faulkner

Russell Eugene Gardo

Charles A Carriker, Jr

Jim P Ervin

A technique transfers data over a packet-switched network (PSN), comprising a plurality of intermediate nodes, in a manner that does not require that the intermediate nodes support a network layer infrastructure. A network controller coupled to the intermediate nodes acquires topology information associated with the PSN's topology. This information may include pseudo-wire definitions, ingress and egress interface information, ingress and egress labels, and so on. The network controller generates a transport database from the topology information and distributes the transport database to the intermediate nodes. An intermediate node acquires the transport database information and configures a packet-processing engine (PPE), contained within the intermediate node, to process packets acquired by the intermediate node.

Technique for transferring data over a packet switched network

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

The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for preventing a layer-2 forwarding loop from being created within a network element (NE). Specifically, the present invention is used to prevent a loop from being formed within a NE by multiple data stitches for the same data circuit. The loops are prevented from being formed within the NE by running spanning tree on all but one of the multiple data stitches for a data circuit. The spanning tree blocks each of the data stitches on which it is run and thus only one data stitch remains and no loop is formed.

Method and apparatus for preventing loops within a data stitching network element

Restricting the assignment of VLANs so that a unique VLAN or set of VLANs must be assigned to each link for a particular network circuit (NC) or group of NCs. NCs are prevented from being assignd a particular VLAN if the addition of the VLAN assignment will create a mix-match topology, which may either create a loop or prevent a loop from being able to be properly blocked without inadvertently blocking a link of another NC. Restriction of VLAN assignment allow a single conventional spanning tree to be run to ensure that there are no layerforwarding loops exist while at the same time not inadvertently blocking the path of another NC.

Method and apparatus for restricting the assignment of VLANs

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Santa Rosa, CA, United States of America

Thomas E Black, Jr