Multi-bridge LAN aggregation
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- operating an intermediate network device as a tunneling network device in a link aggregation configuration, whereinthe intermediate network device comprisesa plurality of ports, comprisinga first physical port, anda second physical port, anda multi-bridge engine, coupled to the plurality of ports and comprisinga tunnel engine, anda bridge forwarding engine configured to process received data, received at one of the plurality of ports, according to one or more protocols,the second physical port is configured to support a bridge interconnect port, andthe operating comprisestunneling data between the first physical port and the bridge interconnect port via the tunneling engine, whereinthe tunneling is performed without the bridge forwarding engine processing the data according to the one or more protocols.
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Abstract
A method and system for multi-bridge LAN aggregation is disclosed. The method includes aggregating a plurality of LANs coupling a host to a first and a second intermediate network device. The system includes an intermediate network device. The intermediate network device includes a multi-bridge engine. The multi-bridge engine includes a tunnel engine coupled to a bridge interconnect port and a first physical port.
57 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
operating an intermediate network device as a tunneling network device in a link aggregation configuration, wherein the intermediate network device comprises a plurality of ports, comprising a first physical port, and a second physical port, and a multi-bridge engine, coupled to the plurality of ports and comprising a tunnel engine, and a bridge forwarding engine configured to process received data, received at one of the plurality of ports, according to one or more protocols, the second physical port is configured to support a bridge interconnect port, and the operating comprises tunneling data between the first physical port and the bridge interconnect port via the tunneling engine, wherein the tunneling is performed without the bridge forwarding engine processing the data according to the one or more protocols. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An intermediate network device comprising:
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one or more processors; a plurality of ports, comprising a first physical port, and a second physical port configured to be configured to support a bridge interconnect port; a multi-bridge engine, coupled to the one or more processors and the plurality of ports, and comprising a tunnel engine, and a bridge forwarding engine configured to process received data, received at one of the plurality of ports, according to one or more protocols; a computer-readable storage medium coupled to the one or more processors; and a plurality of instructions, encoded in the computer-readable storage medium and configured to cause the one or more processors to operate the intermediate network device as a tunneling network device in a link aggregation configuration by virtue of being configured to cause data to be tunneled between the first physical port and the bridge interconnect port via the tunneling engine, without the bridge forwarding engine processing the data according to the one or more protocols. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. An intermediate network device comprising:
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a plurality of ports, comprising a first physical port, and a second physical port configured to be configured to support a bridge interconnect port; and multi-bridge engine means for operating the intermediate network device as a tunneling network device in a link aggregation configuration, wherein the multi-bridge engine means is coupled to the plurality of ports and comprises bridge forwarding engine means for processing received data, received at one of the plurality of ports, according to one or more protocols, and tunnel engine means for tunneling data between the first physical port and the bridge interconnect port, when the intermediate network device is operating as a tunneling network device in a link aggregation configuration, wherein the tunnel engine means is configured to perform the tunneling the data without the data being processed by the bridge forwarding engine means according to the one or more protocols.
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Specification