Site-to-site dynamic virtual local area network

• US 20040047352A1
• Filed: 08/26/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Amberg, Richard, Wiedeman, Dennis M., Baker, Eugene, Potter, Dwayne R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,977,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.53
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4675 Dynamic sharing of VLAN information amongst network nodes configuration of the network or of network elements H04L41/08

Abstract

A system for dynamically implementing a plurality of virtual local area networks (“VLANs”) across multiple sites is described. In one embodiment, the system includes a first VLAN-capable switch at a first site; a first system under test (“SUT”) connected to the first VLAN-capable switch via a first burn rack switch; a second VLAN-capable switch located at a second site remote from the first site; a second SUT connected to the second VLAN-capable switch via a second burn rack switch; and means for connecting the first and second VLAN-capable switches such that the first and second SUTs are connected to a single virtual private network (“VPN”). The means for connecting may consist of either first and second routers respectively connected to the first and second VLAN-capable switches and interconnected via a T1 line or an ATM connection. In an alternative embodiment, the system includes a first VLAN-capable switch located at a first site; a first system under test (“SUT’) connected to the first VLAN-capable switch via a first burn rack switch; a second VLAN-capable switch located at a second site remote from the first site; a customer network located at a customer site remote from the first and second sites and connected to the second VLAN-capable switch via a router; and an ATM connection between the first and second VLAN-capable switches such that the first SUT and the customer network are connected to a single virtual private network (“VPN”). In this alternative embodiment, the connection between the second site and customer site may be either an Internet connection or a high speed point-to-point connection.

Claims

1. A system for dynamically implementing a virtual LAN (VLAN), the system comprising:

a first VLAN-capable switch;

a second VLAN-capable switch;

a plurality of first uniquely identified system under test (first SUTs) connected to the first VLAN-capable switch;

a plurality of second uniquely identified SUT (second SUTs) connected to the second VLAN-capable switch;

selected first and second SUTs being dynamically connected to form a first private VLAN, selected remaining first and second SUTs being dynamically connected to form a second private VLAN.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the selected first and second SUTs are custom configured in the first private VLAN.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the remaining first and second SUTs are custom configured in the second private VLAN.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the selected first and second SUTs are tested in the first private VLAN.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the remaining first and second SUTs are tested in the second private VLAN.

6. The system of claim 1 including a third VLAN-capable switch coupled to the second VLAN-capable switch.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein one of the first and second VLAN-capable switches is coupled to a customer server to provide custom configuration to SUTs in one of the first and second private VLANs.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein a customer'"'"'s server is coupled to one of the first and second private VLAN'"'"'s.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the customer'"'"'s server is coupled to the first SUTs to enable custom configuration of the first SUTs with information from the customer'"'"'s server.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of first SUTs and the plurality of second SUTs are located in a burn rack.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of first SUTs and the plurality of second SUTs are distributed across a plurality of burn racks.

12. A method of dynamically implementing a virtual LAN comprising:

providing first and second virtual-LAN capable switches;

uniquely identifying a plurality of first systems under test (first SUTs) connected to the first VLAN-capable switch;

uniquely identifying a plurality of second systems under second (first SUTs) connected to the second VLAN-capable switch;

dynamically connecting selected first and second SUTs to form a first private VLAN; and

dynamically connecting remaining first and second SUTs to form a second private VLAN.

13. The method of claim 12 including custom configuring the selected first and second SUTs in the first private VLAN.

14. The method of claim 13 including custom configuring the remaining first and second SUTs in the second private VLAN.

15. The method of claim 12 including testing the selected first and second SUTs in the first private VLAN.

16. The method of claim 12 including testing the remaining first and second SUTs in the second private VLAN.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein one of the first and second VLAN-capable switches is coupled to a customer server to provide custom configuration to SUTs in one of the first and second private VLANs.

18. The method of claim 12 including coupling a customer'"'"'s server to one of the first and second private VLANs.

19. The method of claim 12 including coupling a customer'"'"'s server to the plurality of first SUTs to enable custom configuration of the plurality of first SUTs with information from the customer'"'"'s server.

20. The method of claim 12 including situating the plurality of first SUTs and the plurality of second SUTs in a burn rack.

21. The method of claim 12 including distributing the plurality of first SUTs and the plurality of second SUTs across a plurality of burn racks.