Internet protocol (IP) work group routing
First Claim
1. A method of forwarding IP packets in a network device between a plurality of host based on IP addressing, wherein the network device has a plurality of network interfaces connecting a pluralty of host networks and the at least one host is coupled to at least one of the plurality of network interfaces, comprising:
- assigning the plurality of network interfaces to an IP work group, each of the plurality of network interfaces of the IP work group having a single IP work group address and wherein the at least one host has an IP address assigned in the IP work group; and
the network device forwarding IP packets received from the host between the plurality of network interfaces if the at least one host is permitted to transmit packets to the at least one network interface to which the at least one host is coupled.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method wherein multiple router interfaces are assigned the same IP network address, creating an IP work group. This enhances host mobility by allowing, in one embodiment, a host to be relocated anywhere in the work group without requiring reconfiguration of the host. As a further option, host address ranges may be specified (i.e., locked) to designated interfaces of the work group, to enhance security by restricting the allowed host mobility within the work group. An additional advantage is a reduced consumption of network and subnet addresses, because now a single address is used for several physical networks.
255 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of forwarding IP packets in a network device between a plurality of host based on IP addressing, wherein the network device has a plurality of network interfaces connecting a pluralty of host networks and the at least one host is coupled to at least one of the plurality of network interfaces, comprising:
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assigning the plurality of network interfaces to an IP work group, each of the plurality of network interfaces of the IP work group having a single IP work group address and wherein the at least one host has an IP address assigned in the IP work group; and
the network device forwarding IP packets received from the host between the plurality of network interfaces if the at least one host is permitted to transmit packets to the at least one network interface to which the at least one host is coupled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
providing a work group forwarding agent for each IP work group.
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21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:
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maintaining a host table of IP host addresses and their associated network interfaces; and
wherein the work group forwarding agent, prior to forwarding an IP packet, accesses the host table for the associated network interface.
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22. The method of claim 21, wherein:
the work group forwarding agent sends ARP requests to all network interfaces in the IP work group to resolve an unknown host physical address.
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23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:
providing an ARP forwarding agent at each network interface in the work group, for accessing the host table.
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24. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
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maintaining a range table of host IP addresses and associated network interfaces on which the hosts may reside; and
prior to forwarding an IP packet, accessing the range table to validate at least one of a source host and a destination host.
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25. The method of claim 1, wherein a host is attachable to any network interface in the IP work group without requiring reconfiguration of the host IP address.
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26. The method of claim 25, including assigning one or more of the plurality of network interfaces in the IP work group to a designated range of host IP addresses, and wherein forwarding of IP packets is restricted to hosts complying with the designated range.
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27. The method of claim 25, including assigning one or more of the plurality of network interfaces in the IP work group to a designated level of security, and
wherein forwarding of IP packets is restricted to compliance with the designated level of security. -
28. The method of claim 25, including assigning one or more of the plurality of network interfaces in the IP work group to a designated range of host physical address(es), and
wherein forwarding of IP packets is restricted to hosts complying with the designated range.
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29. A network device for forwarding IP packets between a plurality of hosts based on IP addressing wherein the network device has a plurality of network interfaces connecting a plurality of host networks and, the improvement comprising:
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means for assigning the plurality of network interfaces to an IP work group, each of the plurality of network interfaces of the IP work group having a single IP work group address and wherein the at least one host has an IP address assigned in the IP work group; and
means for forwarding IP packets received from the host between the plurality of network interfaces if the at least one host is permitted to transmit packets to the at least one network interface to which the at least one host is coupled. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
wherein forwarding of IP packets by the forwarding means is restricted to hosts complying with the designated range.
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Specification