Method, system, apparatus, and program to link aggregate over independent redundant switches

• US 20080037418A1
• Filed: 08/10/2006
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tellabs Petaluma, Inc. (Infinera Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Tellabs Petaluma, Inc. (Infinera Corp.)
• Inventors: Leever, Brent A., Cordes, Corry A., Lopez, Richard S., Cole, Mark W.
• Application Number:
  US11/502,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20080037418A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A method to link aggregate over independent redundant switches is provided for use in an apparatus including first, second, and third switches in a local area network (LAN). A first port of the first switch is connected to a first port of the second switch, a second port of the second switch is connected to a first port of the third switch, and a second port of the third switch is connected to a second port of the first switch. The method includes forming a first link aggregation group (LAG) between the first and second ports of the first switch; forming a second LAG between the first and second ports of the second switch; and applying a port forwarding rule to the first and second ports of the second switch, where the first switch is in an active mode and the second switch is in a standby mode.

Claims

1. A method for use in an apparatus including first, second, and third switches in a local area network (LAN), wherein a first port of the first switch is connected to a first port of the second switch, a second port of the second switch is connected to a first port of the third switch, and a second port of the third switch is connected to a second port of the first switch, the method comprising:

forming a first link aggregation group (LAG) between the first and second ports of the first switch;

forming a second LAG between the first and second ports of the second switch; and

applying a port forwarding rule to the first and second ports of the second switch, wherein the first switch is in an active mode and the second switch is in a standby mode.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the LAN is an Ethernet.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the second and third switches are redundant switches.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first switch is an Ethernet switch.