Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.

Brocade Communication Systems LLC

Tse Yu Lei

Mythilikanth Raman

Vardarajan Venkatesh

Ning Song

Amit Narayan Gupta

Ram Dular Singh

Chi Lung Chong

One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a local database, a packet processor, a data management module, and a tree construction module. The packet processor extracts spanning tree information associated with a remote switch. The data management module stores the extracted spanning tree information in the local database. The tree construction module assigns an interface state associated with a spanning tree to a local interface based on the extracted spanning tree information.

Spanning-tree based loop detection for an ethernet fabric switch

One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a local identifier associated with the switch, a receiving interface, a loop detection mechanism, and an interface control mechanism. The receiving interface identifies a loop-detection frame which includes an identifier associated with originating switch of the frame. The loop detection mechanism detects a loop based on a match of the identifier associated with the originating switch and the local identifier. The interface control mechanism is coupled to the loop detection mechanism and precludes, in response to detecting a loop, the receiving interface from forwarding frames corresponding to the loop.

External loop detection for an ethernet fabric switch

Techniques for facilitating link redundancy using an enhanced version of Virtual Switch Redundancy Protocol (VSRP), referred to herein as VSRP2. In one set of embodiments, a group of Layer 2 and/or Layer 2/3 devices (switches) can act in concert as a VSRP2 virtual switch. A first switch in the group (a VSRP2 master switch) can forward, via a first link, data traffic to/from a network device in a connected Layer 2 network. A second switch in the group (a VSRP2 backup switch) can block, at a second link, data traffic to/from the same network device. If the first link fails or otherwise becomes unavailable, the VSRP2 backup switch can detect the link failure and begin forwarding, via the second link, data traffic to/from the network device. In this manner, redundancy can be provided at the link level between the VSRP2 virtual switch and the Layer 2 network.

Techniques for link redundancy in layer 2 networks

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Tse Yu Lei