Site-to-site dynamic virtual local area network

• US 20040218538A1
• Filed: 08/26/2003
• Published: 11/04/2004
• 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 7,532,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/241
• 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) across multiple sites, the system comprising:

a first VLAN-capable switch located at a local site;

a first uniquely identified system under test (first SUT) located at the local site and connected to the first VLAN-capable switch;

a second VLAN-capable switch located at a remote site;

a second uniquely identified SUT (second SUT) located at the remote site and connected to the second VLAN-capable switch; and

a connection between the first VLAN-capable switch and the second VLAN capable switch such that the first and second SUTs are connected to and disconnected from a VLAN.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the local site is a manufacturing facility.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote site is a manufacturing facility.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote site is a customer'"'"'s site.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote site is a customer'"'"'s server.

6. The system of claim 1 including a local burn rack located at the local site for receiving the first SUT and a remote burn rack located at the remote site for receiving the second SUT such that the first and second SUTs are configured and tested while operating together on the VLAN.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the VLAN is private.

8. A system for dynamically implementing a virtual LAN (VLAN) across multiple sites, the system comprising:

a first VLAN-capable switch located at a local site;

a plurality of first uniquely identified systems under test (SUTs) located at the local site and connected to the first VLAN-capable switch;

a second VLAN-capable switch located at a remote site;

a plurality of second uniquely identified SUTs, located at the remote site and connected to the second VLAN-capable switch; and

a connection between the first VLAN-capable switch and the second VLAN capable switch such that first and second SUTs are connected to and disconnected from a VLAN.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the local site is a manufacturing facility.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the remote site is a manufacturing facility.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the remote site is a customer'"'"'s site.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the remote site is a customer'"'"'s server.

13. The system of claim 8 including a local burn rack located at the local site for receiving the plurality of first SUTs and a remote burn rack located at the remote site for receiving the plurality of second SUTs such that first and second SUTs are configured and tested while operating together on the VLAN.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the VLAN is private.

15. A system for dynamically implementing a virtual LAN (VLAN) across multiple sites, the system comprising:

a first VLAN-capable switch located at a local site;

a plurality of uniquely identified systems under test (SUTs) located at the local site and connected to the first VLAN-capable switch;

a second VLAN-capable switch located at a remote site;

a plurality of customer sites connected to the remote site; and

a connection between the first VLAN-capable switch and the second VLAN capable switch such that the plurality of SUTs and the plurality of customer sites are connected to and disconnected from a VLAN.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of customer sites is connected to the remote site by an Internet connection therebetween.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the local site is a manufacturing facility.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the remote site is a manufacturing facility.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of customer sites includes customer'"'"'s servers.

20. The system of claim 15 including a local burn rack located at the local site for receiving the plurality of SUTs such that the plurality of SUTs is configured and tested while operating together on the VLAN.

21. The system of claim 15 including a local burn rack located at the local site for receiving the plurality of SUTs such that the plurality of SUTs is configured and tested while operating together on the VLAN using information from a customer site to configure the plurality of SUTs.

22. The system of claim 15 including a local burn rack located at the local site for receiving the plurality of SUTs such that the plurality of SUTs is configured and tested while operating together on the VLAN using information from a plurality of customer sites to configure the plurality of SUTs.

23. A system for dynamically implementing a virtual LAN (VLAN) across multiple sites, the system comprising:

a first VLAN-capable switch located at a local site;

a plurality of uniquely identified systems under test (SUTs) located at the local site and connected to the first VLAN-capable switch;

a second VLAN-capable switch located at a remote site;

a customer site connected to the remote site; and

a connection between the first VLAN-capable switch and the second VLAN capable switch such that the plurality of SUTs and the customer site are connected to and disconnected from a VLAN.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the customer site is connected to the remote site by a router.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the local site is a manufacturing facility.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the remote site is a manufacturing facility.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein the customer site is a customer server.

28. The system of claim 23 wherein the customer site includes configuration information.

29. The system of claim 23 including a local burn rack located at the local site for receiving the plurality of SUTs such that the plurality of SUTs is configured and tested while operating together on the VLAN.

30. The system of claim 23 including a local burn rack located at the local site for receiving the plurality of SUTs such that the plurality of SUTs is configured and tested while operating together on the VLAN using information from a customer site to configure the plurality of SUTs.