Method and apparatus for implementing a MAC address pool for assignment to a virtual interface aggregate
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for implementing an address pool, the method comprising the steps of:
- collecting at least one address, the at least one address originally assigned as a unique address to at least one physical interface of a computer;
modifying said each originally assigned address to be a plurality of modified addresses;
organizing the plurality of modified addresses as the address pool; and
assigning a selected modified address from the pool as a unique address for the pool, the selected modified address to use in contacting the computer in response to receiving a message addressed to an address of the pool.
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Abstract
A method to implement an address pool is described. The method collects at least one address, the at least one address originally assigned as a unique address to at least one physical interface of a computer. Each originally assigned address is modified to be a plurality of modified addresses. The plurality of modified addresses is organized as an address pool. A selected modified address from the pool is assigned as a unique address for the pool. The selected modified address is used in contacting the computer in response to receiving a message addressed to an address of the pool.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for implementing an address pool, the method comprising the steps of:
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collecting at least one address, the at least one address originally assigned as a unique address to at least one physical interface of a computer;
modifying said each originally assigned address to be a plurality of modified addresses;
organizing the plurality of modified addresses as the address pool; and
assigning a selected modified address from the pool as a unique address for the pool, the selected modified address to use in contacting the computer in response to receiving a message addressed to an address of the pool. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer apparatus having a network adapter, the network adapter having an address, comprising:
a processor coupled to the network adapter;
an operating system executable by the processor, the operating system having a virtual interface process configured to collect addresses originally assigned to the network adapter, the virtual interface process modifying each originally assigned address by asserting a predetermined bit of the address to form a pool of modified addresses, and the virtual interface process to assign a selected modified address from the pool as a modified address for the computer. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A computer apparatus having a network adapter, the network adapter having at least one address, comprising:
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means for collecting the least one address, the at least one address originally assigned as a unique address to at least one physical interface of the computer;
means for modifying said each originally assigned address to be a plurality of modified addresses;
means for organizing the plurality of modified addresses as an address pool; and
means for assigning a selected modified address from the pool as a unique address for the pool, the selected modified address to use in contacting the computer in response to receiving a message addressed to an address of the pool. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer readable media, comprising:
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said computer readable media containing instructions for execution on a processor for the practice of a method for implementing an address pool, the method having the steps of, collecting at least one address, the at least one address originally assigned as a unique address to at least one physical interface of a computer;
modifying said each originally assigned address to be a plurality of modified addresses;
organizing the plurality of modified addresses as an address pool; and
assigning a selected modified address from the pool as a unique address for the pool, the selected modified address to use in contacting the computer in response to receiving a message addressed to an address of the pool.
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23. Electromagnetic signals propagating on a computer network, comprising:
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said electromagnetic signals carrying instructions for execution on a processor for the practice of a method for implementing an address pool, the method having the steps of, collecting at least one address, the at least one address originally assigned as a unique address to at least one physical interface of a computer;
modifying said each originally assigned address to be a plurality of modified addresses;
organizing the plurality of modified addresses as an address pool; and
assigning a selected modified address from the pool as a unique address for the pool, the selected modified address to use in contacting the computer in response to receiving a message addressed to an address of the pool
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Specification