Automated multiple-instance spanning tree reconfiguration

• US 20080089245A1
• Filed: 10/17/2006
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2006
• 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: Reichstein, Frank A., Wakumoto, Shaun K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,693,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/256
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/44 Star or tree networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/462 LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/18 Loop-free operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/48 Routing tree calculation

Abstract

One embodiment relates to a method of automated multiple-instance spanning tree reconfiguration. Query packets are sent to switches within an multiple-instance spanning tree (MST) region, and response packets are received from the switches with traffic utilization data for ports of the switches. An MST reconfiguration is determined. The MST reconfiguration is propagated to the switches within the MST region. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of automated multiple-instance spanning tree reconfiguration, the method comprising:

sending query packets to switches within an multiple-instance spanning tree (MST) region;

receiving response packets from the switches with traffic utilization data for ports of the switches;

determining an MST reconfiguration; and

propagating the MST reconfiguration to the switches within the MST region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the MST reconfiguration comprises a re-mapping of virtual local area networks to MSTP instances so as to move at least one VLAN from one MST instance to another MST instance.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the MST reconfiguration comprises a modification of MST parameters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the query packets are sent periodically to poll the switches as to the traffic utilization data for the ports of the switches.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the query packets are sent after a triggering event.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the triggering event comprises a reconfiguration of the MST instances due to a failed link or switch within the MST region.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the reconfiguration is determined so as to improve network performance within the MST region.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the reconfiguration is further determined so as to decrease a rate of dropped packets by the switches.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the reconfiguration is determined in dependence of VLAN traffic priorities so as to increase performance on a higher priority VLAN.

10. A network management apparatus for a network, the apparatus comprising:

a processor;

memory for storing processor-executable instructions and data;

a communication system for communicatively coupling components within the apparatus; and

at least one port communicatively coupled to another device in the network,

wherein the memory includes a) processor-executable code configured to determine an MST reconfiguration; and

b) processor-executable code configured to send packets to multiple-instance spanning tree protocol (MSTP) enabled switches within a MST region so as to propagate said MST reconfiguration.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the MST reconfiguration comprises a re-mapping of virtual local area networks to MSTP instances so as to move at least one VLAN from one MST instance to another MST instance.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the MST reconfiguration comprises a modification of MST parameters.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

processor-executable code configured to send query packets to switches within an multiple-instance spanning tree (MST) region, where the query packets are configured to request traffic utilization data for ports of the switches; and

processor-executable code configured to receive and process response packets from the switches with traffic utilization data for ports of the switches.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the query packets are sent periodically to poll the switches as to the traffic utilization data for the ports of the switches.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the query packets are sent after a triggering event.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the triggering event comprises a reconfiguration of the MST instances due to a failed link or switch within the MST region.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the reconfiguration is scheduled based on a time schedule.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the reconfiguration is determined so as to improve network performance within the MST region.

19. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the reconfiguration is determined in dependence of VLAN traffic priorities, and wherein the reconfiguration is determined so as to increase performance on a higher priority VLAN.

20. A network switching apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a processor;

memory for storing processor-executable instructions and data;

a communication system for communicatively coupling components within the apparatus; and

at least one port communicatively coupled to another device in the network,

wherein the memory includes a) processor-executable code configured to obtain traffic utilization data for all ports of the apparatus when a query packet for the traffic utilization data is received;

b) processor-executable code configured to send a response packet in reply to the query packet, wherein the response packet includes the traffic utilization data; and

c) processor-executable code configured to replace a prior multiple-instance configuration with a new multiple-instance configuration.