Techniques for resolving network connectivity

• US 20050076143A1
• Filed: 09/23/2003
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Zhiqiang, Natarajan, Srikanth, Wilson, Loren F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,352,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/245
• 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 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies

Abstract

Techniques are described for resolving network connectivity. According to an exemplary embodiment, a determination is made whether a first device is included in a portion of a network in which the first device can receive information directed to all devices included within the portion of the network. A first identifier associated with the portion of the network is obtained. A second identifier is assigned to the portion of the network unique to other portions of the network. The first identifier associated with the portion of the network is modified to include the second identifier. The modified first identifier is associated with the first device and the portion of the network. A first symbol identifying the first device can be presented as being connected to a second symbol identifying the portion of the network using the modified first identifier.

Claims

1. A method for resolving network connectivity, the method comprising:

determining whether a first device is included in a portion of a network in which the first device can receive information directed to all devices included within the portion of the network;

obtaining a first identifier associated with the portion of the network;

assigning a second identifier to the portion of the network unique to other portions of the network;

modifying the first identifier associated with the portion of the network to include the second identifier; and

associating the modified first identifier with the first device and the portion of the network.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

identifying a second device included in the portion of the network; and

associating the modified first identifier with the second device.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

presenting a first symbol identifying the first device, connected to a second symbol identifying the portion of the network using the modified first identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the network is a broadcast domain.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the network is a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first device is a network switch including a Management Information Base (MIB) configured to store an identifier of the VLAN.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein obtaining the first identifier associated with the portion of the network comprises:

using a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) query to obtain the identifier of the VLAN from the MIB as the first identifier.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device is a port included in a network switch.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device is coupled to other portions of the network by a network router.

10. A system for resolving network connectivity, the system comprising:

memory; and

a processor, including;

logic configured to determine, using information stored in the memory, whether a first device is included in a portion of a network in which the first device can receive information directed to all devices included within the portion of the network;

logic configured to obtain, from the memory, a first identifier associated with the portion of the network;

logic configured to assign a second identifier to the portion of the network unique to other portions of the network;

logic configured to modify the first identifier associated with the portion of the network to include the second identifier; and

logic configured to associate the modified first identifier with the first device and the portion of the network.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor comprises:

logic configured to identify, using information stored in the memory, a second device included in the portion of the network; and

logic configured to associate the modified first identifier with the second device.

12. The system of claim 10, comprising:

a display;

wherein the processor comprises logic configured to present on the display a first symbol identifying the first device, connected to a second symbol identifying the portion of the network using the modified first identifier.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the portion of the network is a broadcast domain.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the portion of the network is a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN).

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first device is a network switch including a Management Information Base (MIB) as a portion of the memory, the MIB being configured to store an identifier of the VLAN.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein obtaining the first identifier associated with the portion of the network comprises:

using a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) query to obtain the identifier of the VLAN from the MIB as the first identifier.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the information stored in the memory used in determining whether a first device is included in a portion of a network includes a first table having an entry associating an identifier of the network switch with the identifier of the VLAN.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the memory includes a second table having an entry associating an identifier of the network switch with the second identifier.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the first device is a port included in a network switch.

20. The system of claim 10, wherein the first device is coupled to other portions of the network by a network router.

21. A computer readable medium containing a computer program for resolving network connectivity, wherein the computer program comprises executable instructions for:

determining whether a first device is included in a portion of a network in which the first device can receive information directed to all devices included within the portion of the network;

obtaining a first identifier associated with the portion of the network;

assigning a second identifier to the portion of the network unique to other portions of the network;

modifying the first identifier associated with the portion of the network to include the second identifier; and

associating the modified first identifier with the first device and the portion of the network.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the computer program comprises executable instructions for:

identifying a second device included in the portion of the network; and

associating the modified first identifier with the second device.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the computer program comprises executable instructions for:

presenting a first symbol identifying the first device, connected to a second symbol identifying the portion of the network using the modified first identifier.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the portion of the network is a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN).

25. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein the first device is a network switch including a Management Information Base (MIB) configured to store an identifier of the VLAN.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein in obtaining the first identifier associated with the portion of the network, the computer program comprises executable instructions for:

using a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) query to obtain the identifier of the VLAN from the MIB as the first identifier.