Network address assignment using physical address resolution protocols

• US 6,061,739 A
• Filed: 11/26/1997
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Welch, Steven R., Reed, Benjamin Clay
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ellis B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, CHUONG T
• Application Number:
  US08/979,141
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.75, 395/200.52, 370/447, 370/471, 709/9, 709/222, 709/245, 709/225, 709/228, 709/231
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/103 across network layers, e.g. resolution of network layer into physical layer addresses or address resolution protocol [ARP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5046 Resolving address allocation conflicts; Testing of addresses testing when self-assigning an address H04L61/5092
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5092 by self-assignment, e.g. picking addresses at random and testing if they are already in use

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for initial network address configuration using physical address resolution protocol. A device attempts a connection to the network, which causes address resolution (ARP) packets to be generated. The device monitors communications on the network for a specified number of unanswered ARP packets. Thereafter, the device adopt the network address in the unanswered ARP packets and responds to the unanswered ARP packets with the its'"'"' physical address.

Claims

1. A method of assigning a network address to a device coupled to the network using a physical address resolution protocol, comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring communications on the network to observe unanswered address solution protocol (ARP) packets therein;

(b) adopting the network address in the unanswered ARP packets after a specified number of unanswered ARP packets have been observed, wherein the specified number of unanswered address solution protocol (ARP) packets is a programmable value; and

(c) responding to the unanswered ARP packets with the device'"'"'s physical address after the network address has been adopted.

2. The method of claim 1 above, wherein the monitoring step further comprises the step of monitoring communications on the network for the specified number of unanswered ARP packets in a given length of time.

3. The method of claim 2 above, wherein the given length of time is a programmable value.

4. The method of claim 1 above, further comprising the step of generating the ARP packets by attempting a connection to the network from the device.

5. The method of claim 4 above, further comprising the step of dropping the adopted network address when the attempt connection to the network from the device fails in a given length of time.

6. The method of claim 5 above, wherein the given length of time is a programmable value.

7. The method of claim 5 above, further comprising the step of repeating the generating, monitoring, adopting and responding steps when the adopted network address is dropped.

8. An apparatus for assigning a network address using a physical address resolution protocol, comprising:

a device, coupled to a network, wherein the device monitors communications on the network to observe unanswered address solution protocol (ARP) packets therein, adopts the network address in the unanswered ARP packets after a specified number of unanswered ARP packets have been observed, wherein the specified number of unanswered address solution protocol (ARP) packets is a programmable value, and responds to the unanswered ARP packets with the device'"'"'s physical address after the network address has been adopted.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 above, wherein the device monitors communications on the network for the specified number of unanswered ARP packets in a given length of time.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 above, wherein the given length of time is a programmable value.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 above, wherein the device generates the ARP packets by attempting a connection to the network from the device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 above, wherein the device drops the adopted network address when the attempt connection to the network from the new device fails in a given length of time.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 above, wherein the given length of time is a programmable value.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 above, wherein the device repeats the generating, monitoring, adopting and responding functions when the adopted network address is dropped.

15. An article of manufacture comprising a carrier embodying logic that causes a device connected to a network to perform a method for assigning a network address to the device using a physical address resolution protocol, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring communications on the network to observe unanswered address solution protocol (ARP) packets therein;

(b) adopting the network address in the unanswered ARP packets after a specified number of unanswered ARP packets have been observed, wherein the specified number of unanswered address solution protocol (ARP) packets is a programmable value; and

(c) responding to the unanswered ARP packets with the device'"'"'s physical address after the network address has been adopted.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 15 above, wherein the monitoring step further comprises the step of monitoring communications on the network for the specified number of unanswered ARP packets in a given length of time.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 16 above, wherein the given length of time is a programmable value.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 15 above, further comprising the step of generating the ARP packets by attempting a connection to the network from the device.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 18 above, further comprising the step of dropping the adopted network address when the attempt connection to the network from the device fails in a given length of time.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 19 above, wherein the given length of time is a programmable value.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 19 above, further comprising the step of repeating the generating, monitoring, adopting and responding steps when the adopted network address is dropped.