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Device for partitioning ports of a bridge into groups of different virtual local area networks

  • US 5,963,556 A
  • Filed: 10/22/1996
  • Issued: 10/05/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A network device for interconnecting computer networks, said device comprising:

  • a bridge having a plurality of ports through which network communications pass to and from said bridge, said bridge comprising;

    a first interface enabling a user to partition the plurality of ports of said bridge into a plurality of groups, wherein each group represents a different one of a plurality of virtual networks, wherein said bridge treats all ports within a given group as part of the virtual network corresponding to that group and said bridge isolates the groups of said plurality of virtual networks from each other, whereby any communications received at a first port of said bridge are directly sent by said bridge to another port of said bridge only if said other port and said first port are part of the same group; and

    a second interface for enabling the user to designate one or more of said plurality of ports as client ports, wherein said bridge sends to said client ports communications that are received from a station on one virtual network of said plurality of virtual networks and ultimately destined for a station on another virtual network of said plurality of virtual networks.

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