Apparatus for determining the topology of an ATM network or the like Via communication of topology information between a central manager and switches in the network over a virtual service path
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining topology of a switching network, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a central manager coupled in communication with a first switch over a first virtual service path and a second switch over a second virtual service path;
(b) said first switch switching network topology information transmitted from said second switch over said first virtual service path; and
(c) said second switch switching network topology information transmitted by said first switch over said second virtual service path.
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Abstract
An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network or the like employing a method and apparatus for automatically determining the topology of the network is described. The method and apparatus provides for each switch in the network transmitting on each of its ports link advertisement messages (without processing intervention by intermediate switches). The link advertisement messages are received by neighbor switches and forwarded to a topology manager. The topology manager constructs network topology profile information based on received link advertisement messages. Further, the topology manager is able to verify bidirection links based on the received link advertisement messages.
364 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining topology of a switching network, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a central manager coupled in communication with a first switch over a first virtual service path and a second switch over a second virtual service path;
(b) said first switch switching network topology information transmitted from said second switch over said first virtual service path; and
(c) said second switch switching network topology information transmitted by said first switch over said second virtual service path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11)
- (a) a central manager coupled in communication with a first switch over a first virtual service path and a second switch over a second virtual service path;
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8. The apparatus as recited by claim 8 wherein said link advertisement messages include a message header area and an information field and said switch fabric alters said message header area prior to forwarding said link advertisement messages to said central management supervisor.
Specification