Method for specifying a MAC identifier for a network-interface-device

• US 20080175246A1
• Filed: 01/22/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Johnson, Darrin P., Tripathi, Sunay, Kunhappan, Rajagopal
• Granted Patent: US 8,184,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that specifies a MAC identifier for a network-interface-device in a computing device. In this system, the network-interface-device is configured to connect to a network though a port. During operation, the network-interface-device receives data packets through this port, and accepts a data packet if the data packet contains a destination that matches the MAC identifier for the network-interface-device, which can be a universally-administered MAC identifier. The system is also configured to determine whether the network-interface-device supports one or more additional MAC identifiers. If so, the system adds and activates an additional MAC identifier. By activating the newly-added MAC identifier in the computing device, the system allows the network-interface-device to logically separate data packets based on MAC identifiers.

Claims

1. A method for specifying a MAC identifier for a network-interface-device in a computing device, where the network-interface-device is configured to connect to a network through a port, where the network-interface-device is configured to accept a data packet received through the port if the data packet contains a destination that matches the MAC identifier, where the network-interface-device includes a universally-administered MAC identifier, the method comprising:

determining whether the network-interface-device supports one or more additional MAC identifiers; and

if so, selecting and activating an additional MAC identifier;

wherein activating the additional MAC identifier in the computing device allows the network-interface-device to logically separate data packets based on MAC identifiers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the network-interface-device supports one or more additional MAC identifiers involves:

determining whether the networking-interface-device includes a resource that supports one or more MAC identifiers; and

if so, assigning the additional MAC identifier to the resource.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein the resource includes a multicast resource,

wherein the multicast resource supports one or more additional MAC identifiers;

and

wherein the additional MAC identifier is assigned to the multicast resource.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the method further involves specifying the value of the additional MAC identifier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the specified value is selected randomly.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the specified value is selected from a specified block of universally-administered MAC addresses.

7. The method of claim 2,

wherein code in the computing device tracks how many additional MAC identifiers can simultaneously be supported by the network-interface-device;

and

wherein the code supports activating, removing, and/or modifying the additional MAC identifier.

8. The method of claim 4,

wherein the computing device supports one or more computer applications;

and

wherein the additional MAC identifier is requested by a computer application.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the computer application is a guest operating system that includes a virtual network-interface-device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the computer application selects and activates one or more additional MAC identifiers.

11. The method of claim 9,

wherein the computing device enables multiple guest operating systems to execute concurrently;

and

wherein additional MAC identifiers are activated;

by a first computer application that manages allocating MAC identifiers for the multiple guest operating systems;

or

individually by each of one or more guest operating systems.

12. The method of claim 8,

wherein the computer application stores the value of the additional MAC identifier persistently;

and

wherein storing the value allows the computer application to use the same value across multiple sessions of the computer application.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the network-interface-device is a network interface card.

14. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for specifying a MAC identifier for a network-interface-device in a computing device, where the network-interface-device is configured to connect to a network through a port, where the network-interface-device is configured to accept a data packet received through the port if the data packet contains a destination that matches the MAC identifier, where the network-interface-device includes a universally-administered MAC identifier, the method comprising:

determining whether the network-interface-device supports one or more additional MAC identifiers; and

if so, selecting and activating an additional MAC identifier;

wherein activating the additional MAC identifier in the computing device allows the network-interface-device to logically separate data packets based on MAC identifiers.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein determining whether the network-interface-device supports one or more additional MAC identifiers involves:

determining whether the networking-interface-device includes a resource that supports one or more MAC identifiers; and

if so, assigning the additional MAC identifier to the resource.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15,

wherein the resource includes a multicast resource,

wherein the multicast resource supports one or more additional MAC identifiers;

and

wherein the additional MAC identifier is assigned to the multicast resource.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the method further involves specifying the value of the additional MAC identifier.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the specified value is selected randomly.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15,

wherein code in the computing device tracks how many additional MAC identifiers can simultaneously be supported by the network-interface-device;

and

wherein the code supports activating, removing, and/or modifying the additional MAC identifier.

20. An apparatus that specifies a MAC identifier for a network-interface-device in a computing device, where the network-interface-device is configured to connect to a network through a port, where the network-interface-device is configured to accept a data packet received through the port if the data packet contains a destination that matches the MAC identifier, where the network-interface-device includes a universally-administered MAC identifier, comprising:

a determining mechanism configured to determine whether the network-interface-device supports one or more additional MAC identifiers; and

an activation mechanism configured to select and activate an additional MAC identifier if the network-interface-device supports one or more additional MAC identifiers;

wherein activating the additional MAC identifier in the computing device allows the network-interface-device to logically separate data packets based on MAC identifiers.