摘要:
A multiple instance spanning tree protocol (MI-STP) creates a plurality of active topologies (i.e., loop-free paths) within a computer network. These active topologies may be established through the exchange and processing of multiple instance spanning tree bridge protocol data unit messages (MI-STP BPDUs) by the intermediate network devices within the network. The active topologies are preferably created independently of any virtual local area network (VLAN) designations defined within the network. Once the active topologies are defined, each VLAN designation is then mapped to a single active topology, although multiple VLAN designations are preferably mapped to the same active topology to provide load balancing.
摘要:
A method and apparatus facilitates and enhances the operation of the spanning tree protocol in bridged computer networks. An intermediate network device in accordance with the present invention includes an enhanced spanning tree engine that is configured to perform certain novel functions. First, the enhanced spanning tree engine is configured to identify and block ports at which messages are looped-back to the transmitting port, thereby avoiding the creation of network loops. In second aspect, the enhanced spanning tree engine rapidly transitions certain ports to a forwarding state to prevent associated applications from timing out and shutting down. Rather than moving the ports through blocking, listening and learning states before reaching the forwarding state, selected ports may be transitioned directly to the forwarding state.
摘要:
Methods and apparatus for segregating traffic are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a traffic splitter identifies a set of links coupled to the traffic splitter, where the set of links includes two or more uplinks, wherein each of the two or more uplinks are implemented in a common physical media. The two or more uplinks include a LAN uplink coupled to a LAN and a SAN uplink coupled to a SAN. The traffic splitter prevents SAN traffic from reaching the LAN via the LAN uplink. In addition, the traffic splitter prevents LAN traffic from reaching the SAN via the SAN uplink.
摘要:
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for restarting a first network device having a plurality of ports for receiving and transmitting layer 2 data. The first network device belongs to a network of network devices. When a restart of at least a portion of the first network device is imminent whereby STP is no longer functioning for the first network device during the restart and can no longer alter a spanning tree protocol (STP) state of one or more of the ports and such ports that remain in a fixed state during the restart are referred to as restarting ports, a current state (such as forwarding) of each restarting port is maintained during the restart under predefined conditions. During the restart, each of the restarting ports of the restarting network device portion cooperate with its peer port of a second non-restarting network device that is a neighbor of the first network device so as to prevent layer 2 loops in the network.
摘要:
Methods and apparatus for segregating traffic are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a traffic splitter identifies a set of links coupled to the traffic splitter, where the set of links includes two or more uplinks, wherein each of the two or more uplinks are implemented in a common physical media. The two or more uplinks include a LAN uplink coupled to a LAN and a SAN uplink coupled to a SAN. The traffic splitter prevents SAN traffic from reaching the LAN via the LAN uplink. In addition, the traffic splitter prevents LAN traffic from reaching the SAN via the SAN uplink.
摘要:
A method of managing a computer network switch is disclosed. The method has the steps of: setting a port of the switch to root guard protected status (RG status); selecting by a spanning tree protocol (STP) the port as a designated port; and setting said port into blocked status, in response to said port being both in root guard protected status and selected by STP as a root port. By setting a port to root guard protected, the port is prevented from becoming a designated port, and so then forcing the root port to remain in a desired core network.
摘要:
A method of managing a computer network switch is disclosed. The method has the steps of: setting a port of the switch to root guard protected status (RG status); selecting by a spanning tree protocol (STP) the port as a designated port; and setting said port into blocked status, in response to said port being both in root guard protected status and selected by STP as a root port. By setting a port to root guard protected, the port is prevented from becoming a designated port, and so then forcing the root port to remain in a desired core network.
摘要:
The Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) chooses a root switch. Each of the other switches has a “root” port and one or more “designated ports(s)” chosen by STP. Packets are transmitted upstream toward the root switch through the root port, and packets designated for downstream switches from the root switch are received by the root port and transmitted through the designated ports. In the invention, an administrator of the core network identifies which switch ports in the core network are boundary ports to customer networks. The administrator designates the boundary ports as “root guard protected” ports (RG ports). The STP then executes as required by the ordinary STP protocol, and if a RG port is selected by the STP to be a root portm then the status of the port is set to “blocked,” and no packets are transmitted through the port.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for continuing the operation of a spanning tree protocol at a network device despite crashes or failures at that device. A supervisor card contained in the network device is designated an active supervisor, while all other supervisor cards are designated standby supervisors. The active supervisor runs the spanning tree protocol, and informs the standby supervisors of the states of ports, but not of the identity of the root or designated bridges. When a crash or failure occurs at the active supervisor, one of the standby supervisors is immediately designated to be the new active supervisor. The newly active supervisor reviews the port state, and queries the line cards to determine whether that port state information is still valid. The newly active supervisor adopts the valid port state information, leaving those ports in their current spanning tree port state.
摘要:
Efficient switched network multicasting techniques are provided. Incoming multicast packets are processed by a central forwarding engine (CFE) in a network switch to generate forwarding indices used to make forwarding decisions for the packets based upon whether the packets are special multicast control packets or data packets. Forwarding of the special multicast control packets is determined by the switch's network management processor (NMP), while data packets are forwarded based upon conventional bridge forwarding techniques.