Method And System For Associating Physical Link Partners Using A Layer Two Mechanism

• US 20110019689A1
• Filed: 09/18/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Teener, Michael Johas, Diab, Wael William
• Granted Patent: US 9,014,017 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/462
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/3054 Auto-negotiation, e.g. access control between switch gigabit interface connector [GBIC] and link
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/00 Reducing energy consumption in communication networks

Abstract

A network device and an adjacent network device may autonegotiate for utilization of an OSI layer 2 protocol for exchanging control information. The network device may generate and/or communicate to the adjacent network device, Ethernet frames comprising the control information based on the OSI layer 2 protocol. OSI layer 2 capabilities status and/or MAC address of the adjacent network device may be received and/or stored during auto-negotiation. An Ethertype and/or LLDP Ethertype may be set within the Ethernet frames to indicate utilization of the OSI layer 2 protocol. Payload within the Ethernet frames may be populated with control information that is encapsulated in a non-standardized or standardized discovery protocol frame and/or a LLDPDU. The control information may comprise device capabilities and/or communication parameters. Subsequent Ethernet frames comprising other content may be communicated to the adjacent network device based on the control information.

Claims

1. A method for networking, the method comprising:

performing by one or more circuits and/or processors in a network device;

auto-negotiating with an adjacent network device to determine utilization of an OSI layer 2 protocol for exchanging control information;

generating one or more Ethernet frames comprising said control information based on said OSI layer 2 protocol; and

communicating said generated one or more Ethernet frames to said adjacent network device based on said OSI layer 2 protocol.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving and/or storing said information regarding said utilization of said OSI layer 2 protocol during said auto-negotiation.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving and/or storing indication of OSI layer 2 capability of said adjacent network device during said auto-negotiation.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving and/or storing a MAC address of said adjacent network device during said auto-negotiation.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising setting an Ethertype and/or an LLDP Ethertype within said generated one or more Ethernet frames to indicate said utilization of said of said OSI layer 2 protocol.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising populating payload of said generated one or more Ethernet frames with said control information.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising populating payload of said generated one or more Ethernet frames with said control information that is encapsulated based on one or more of a non-standardized discovery protocol, a standardized discovery protocol and/or a link layer discovery packet data unit.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said control information comprises device capabilities and/or communication parameters.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said adjacent network device is coupled via an Ethernet link.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising communicating subsequent Ethernet frames comprising other content to said adjacent network device based on said control information.

11. A system for networking, the system comprising:

one or more circuits for use in a network device, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to;

auto-negotiate with an adjacent network device to determine utilization of an OSI layer 2 protocol for exchanging control information;

generate one or more Ethernet frames comprising said control information based on said OSI layer 2 protocol; and

communicate said generated one or more Ethernet frames to said adjacent network device based on said OSI layer 2 protocol.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to receive and/or store said information regarding said utilization of said OSI layer 2 protocol during said auto-negotiation.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to receive and/or store said information regarding said utilization of said OSI layer 2 protocol during said auto-negotiation.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to receive and/or store a MAC address of said adjacent network device during said auto-negotiation.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to set an Ethertype and/or an LLDP Ethertype within said generated one or more Ethernet frames to indicate said utilization of said of said OSI layer 2 protocol.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to populate payload of said generated one or more Ethernet frames with said control information.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to populate payload of said generated one or more Ethernet frames with said control information that is encapsulated based on one or more of a non-standardized discovery protocol, a standardized discovery protocol and/or a link layer discovery packet data unit.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein said control information comprises device capabilities and/or communication parameters.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said adjacent network device is coupled via an Ethernet link.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to communicate subsequent Ethernet frames comprising other content to said adjacent network device based on said control information.