Virtual network construction method, system, and relaying apparatus

• US 20020067725A1
• Filed: 11/19/2001
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Oguchi, Naoki, Saito, Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 7,660,324 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/390
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/50 using label swapping, e.g. multi-protocol label switch [MPLS]

Abstract

In a virtual network construction method, a virtual network construction system, and a relaying apparatus within a public data communication network, control packets each having set a multicast address are multicast, and upon reception of the control packets by the relaying apparatuses belonging to the multicast address group, virtual links to the transmitting sources of the control packets are established and reply packets are returned through the virtual links, whereby the virtual links are established between all of the relaying apparatuses belonging to the multicast address group to establish the virtual network.

Claims

1. A virtual network construction method comprising the steps of:

generating and multicasting control packets each having set a multicast address predetermined per virtual network in first relaying apparatuses originating a virtual network within a public data communication network, and

establishing virtual links to the first relaying apparatuses which are transmitting sources of the control packets upon receipt thereof and returning reply packets through the virtual links in second relaying apparatuses belonging to the multicast address group,

whereby the virtual links are established between all pairs of the first and the second relaying apparatuses belonging to the multicast address group to construct the virtual network.

2. The virtual network construction method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second relaying apparatuses authenticate the control packets received.

3. The virtual network construction method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the virtual links comprise IP tunnels.

4. The virtual network construction method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the virtual links comprise MPLS tunnels.

5. A virtual network construction system comprising:

first relaying apparatuses for generating and multicasting, when starting a construction of a virtual network within a public data communication network, control packets each having set a multicast address predetermined per virtual network, and

second relaying apparatuses for establishing virtual links to the first relaying apparatuses which are transmitting sources of the control packets upon receipt thereof and for returning reply packets through the virtual links,

whereby the virtual links are established between all of the first and the second relaying apparatuses belonging to the multicast address group by operations thereof to construct the virtual network.

6. The virtual network construction system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the second relaying apparatuses establishing the virtual links authenticate the control packets received.

7. The virtual network construction system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the virtual links comprise IP tunnels.

8. The virtual network construction system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the virtual links comprise MPLS tunnels.

9. A relaying apparatus, which terminates a virtual network within a public data communication network comprising:

means for generating and multicasting control packets each having set a multicast address predetermined per virtual network, and

means for establishing virtual links to other relaying apparatuses which are transmitting sources of the control packets upon receipt thereof and for returning reply packets through the virtual links,

whereby the virtual links are established between all of the relaying apparatuses belonging to the multicast address group to construct the virtual network.

10. The relaying apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising means for authenticating the control packets received.

11. The relaying apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising means for generating a routing table for each of a plurality of virtual networks logically independent of one another, and means for performing a packet relay of each virtual network based on the routing table.

12. The relaying apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the virtual links comprise IP tunnels.

13. The relaying apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the virtual links comprise MPLS tunnels.