Backup CRF VLAN
First Claim
1. A method for providing a redundant path for traffic between undistributed Concentrator Relay Functions (CRFs) located on different switches interconnected by trunk links of a distributed token ring (TR) bridge, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a backup network having a CRF with associated ports, the CRF distributed among the switches and having only one port active at a time;
connecting the backup network between the switches of the distributed TR bridge, the backup network having a primary active path and a backup network path to the distributed TR bridge; and
utilizing the backup network path if the primary active path is not a valid path to the backup network.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A backup CRF VLAN arrangement provides an alternate, redundant path for traffic between undistributed Concentrator Relay Functions (CRFs) located on separate switches interconnected by trunk links of a distributed token ring bridge. The backup CRF virtual local area network (VLAN) arrangement defines a backup network path which may be utilized if a primary active path is not a valid path to a backup network. Notably, the backup network comprises a special type of CRF that is distributed among the switches, but that has only one port active at any given time.
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Citations
70 Claims
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1. A method for providing a redundant path for traffic between undistributed Concentrator Relay Functions (CRFs) located on different switches interconnected by trunk links of a distributed token ring (TR) bridge, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a backup network having a CRF with associated ports, the CRF distributed among the switches and having only one port active at a time;
connecting the backup network between the switches of the distributed TR bridge, the backup network having a primary active path and a backup network path to the distributed TR bridge; and
utilizing the backup network path if the primary active path is not a valid path to the backup network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 42, 43)
associating a virtual local area network (VLAN) with the distributed CRF; and
configuring a database of each switch in the distributed TR bridge to define the distributed CRF and associated VLAN as a backup CRF VLAN.
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4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of configuring further comprises the step of manually configuring the DRiP database of each switch in the distributed bridge.
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5. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of configuring further comprises the step of employing a conventional protocol configured to set up and manage VLANs in a network.
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6. The method of claim 3 wherein the database is a distributed ring protocol (DRiP) database having a plurality of entries and wherein the step of configuring comprises the step of asserting a backup bit for an entry of the database to reflect a backup CRF VLAN status of the backup CRF VLAN.
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7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of asserting comprises the step of denoting that ports on the CRF VLAN are not disabled when the DRiP database indicates that another switch has a port configured on the same CRF VLAN.
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8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of ensuring that only one port of the distributed CRF is active at a time to thereby avoid loop problems associated with active, dual-attached ports.
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9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:
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implementing a conflict resolution policy when a port on more than one switch of the distributed CRF is active and configured at the same time; and
selecting one port of a switch to be active for the backup CRF VLAN.
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10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of selecting comprises the step of selecting a port of a switch having a smaller medium access control address value.
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11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of selecting comprises the step of selecting a port of a switch having a larger medium access control address value.
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42. A computer readable media, comprising:
said computer readable media having instructions for execution on a processor for the practice of the method of claim 1 or claim 21.
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43. Electromagnetic signals propagating on a computer network, comprising:
said electromagnetic signals carrying instructions for execution on a processor for the practice of the method of claim 1 or claim 21.
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12. A system for providing a redundant path for traffic between undistributed Concentrator Relay Functions (CRFs) located on different switches interconnected by trunk links of a distributed token ring (TR) bridge, the system comprising:
a backup network coupled between the switches, the backup network utilized in response to activation of a TR connection when a trunk link within the distributed TR bridge fails, the backup network including a CRF that is distributed among the switches and having only one port active at a time. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for operating a switch, comprising:
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connecting a first port of said switch to a trunk link, said trunk link forming a path of a distributed token ring (TR) bridge to provide a path for traffic between an undistributed Concentrator Relay Function (CRF) in said switch and other undistributed Concentrator Relay Functions located on other switches;
providing a second port of said switch to connect to said distributed token ring (TR) bridge to provide a portion of a backup network, said second port having a second undistributed CRF in said switch; and
utilizing said second port as a backup port if the primary active port does not connect to a valid path to the network, the backup port providing a path from said switch to said distributed token ring (TR) bridge. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
utilizing the backup network path in response to activation of a TR connection when a trunk link within the distributed TR bridge fails.
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23. The method of claim 21 further comprising:
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associating a virtual local area network (VLAN) with the distributed CRF; and
configuring a database of each switch in the distributed TR bridge to define the distributed CRF and associated VLAN as a backup CRF VLAN.
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24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:
manually configuring the DRiP database of each switch in the distributed bridge.
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25. The method of claim 23 further comprising:
employing a conventional protocol configured to set up and manage VLANs in a network.
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26. The method of claim 23 further comprising:
asserting a backup bit for an entry of the database to reflect a backup CRF VLAN status of the backup CRF VLAN, and the database is a distributed ring protocol (DRiP) database having a plurality of entries.
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27. The method of claim 26 further comprising:
denoting that ports on the CRF VLAN are not disabled when the DRiP database indicates that another switch has a port configured on the same CRF VLAN.
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28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:
ensuring that only one port of the distributed CRF is active at a time to thereby avoid loop problems associated with active, dual-attached ports.
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29. The method of claim 28 further comprising:
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implementing a conflict resolution policy when a port on more than one switch of the distributed CRF is active and configured at the same time; and
selecting one port of a switch to be active for the backup CRF VLAN.
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30. The method of claim 29 further comprising:
selecting a port of a switch having a smaller medium access control address value.
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31. The method of claim 29 further comprising:
selecting a port of a switch having a larger medium access control address value.
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32. A switch, comprising:
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a first port of said switch connected to a trunk link, said trunk link forming a path of a distributed token ring (TR) bridge to provide a path for traffic between an undistributed Concentrator Relay Function (CRF) in said switch and other undistributed Concentrator Relay Functions located on other switches;
a second port of said switch connected to said distributed token ring (TR) bridge to provide a portion of a backup network, said second port having a second undistributed CRF in said switch; and
a circuit to utilize said second port as a backup port if the primary active port does not connect to a valid path to the network, the backup port providing a path from said switch to said distributed token ring (TR) bridge. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
a backup network path which may be utilized by said switch if a primary active path is not a valid path to a backup network.
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34. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising:
said switch forming a part of a distributed CRF, a virtual local area network (VLAN) associated said distributed CRF, and the distributed CRF and associated VLAN are defined as a backup CRF VLAN by configuring a database of said switch.
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35. The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising:
said database is a distributed ring protocol (DRiP) database having a plurality of entries and the DRiP database is configured ion said switch to reflect a backup CRF VLAN status by asserting a backup bit for a particular entry.
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36. The apparatus of claim 35 further comprising:
assertion of the backup bit denotes that ports on the CRF VLAN are not disabled when the DRiP database indicates that another switch has a port configured on the same CRF VLAN.
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37. The apparatus of claim 35 further comprising:
a DRiP core process in said switch, said DRiP core process for implementing a conflict resolution policy when a port on more than one switch of the distributed CRF is active and configured at the same time, the conflict resolution policy selecting one port of a switch to be active for the backup CRF VLAN.
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38. The apparatus of claim 37 further comprising:
- the conflict resolution policy is based on the medium access control address of each switch.
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39. The apparatus of claim 32 further comprising:
- the backup network is an ATMLane network.
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40. The apparatus of claim 32 further comprising:
- the trunk links are interswitch link (ISL) trunk links.
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41. A switch, comprising:
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means for connecting a first port of said switch to a trunk link, said trunk link forming a path of a distributed token ring (TR) bridge to provide a path for traffic between an undistributed Concentrator Relay Function (CRF) in said switch and other undistributed Concentrator Relay Functions located on other switches;
means for providing a second port of said switch to connect to said distributed token ring (TR) bridge to provide a portion of a backup network, said second port having a second undistributed CRF in said switch; and
means for utilizing said second port as a backup port if the primary active port does not connect to a valid path to the network, the backup port providing a path from said switch to said distributed token ring (TR) bridge.
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44. A method for operating a switch, comprising:
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connecting a first port of said switch to a trunk link, said trunk link forming a path of a distributed token ring (TR) bridge to provide a path for traffic between an undistributed Concentrator (CRF) in said switch and other undistributed Concentrators located on other switches;
providing a second port of said switch to connect to said distributed token ring (TR) bridge to provide a portion of a backup network, said second port having a second undistributed CRF in said switch; and
utilizing said second port as a backup port if the primary active port does not connect to a valid path to the network, the backup port providing a backup network path from said switch to said distributed token ring (TR) bridge. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 69, 70)
using a concentrator relay function in the switch as the concentrator, the concentrator relay function described in the IEEE 802.5 standard.
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46. The method of claim 44 further comprising:
utilizing the backup network path in response to activation of a TR connection when a trunk link within the distributed TR bridge fails.
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47. The method of claim 44 further comprising:
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associating a virtual local area network (VLAN) with the distributed CRF; and
configuring a database of each switch in the distributed TR bridge to define the distributed CRF and associated VLAN as a backup CRF VLAN.
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48. The method of claim 44 further comprising:
manually configuring a DRIP database of each switch in the distributed bridge.
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49. The method of claim 44 further comprising:
employing a conventional protocol configured to set up and manage VLANs in a network.
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50. The method of claim 44 further comprising:
asserting a backup bit for an entry of the database to reflect a backup CRF VLAN status of the backup CRF VLAN, and the database is a distributed ring protocol (DRiP) database having a plurality of entries.
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51. The method of claim 44 further comprising:
denoting that ports on the CRF VLAN are not disabled when the DRiP database indicates that another switch has a port configured on the same CRF VLAN.
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52. The method of claim 44 further comprising:
ensuring that only one port of the distributed CRF is active at a time to thereby avoid loop problems associated with active, dual-attached ports.
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69. A computer readable media, comprising:
said computer readable media having instructions for execution on a processor for the practice of the method of claim 44 or claim 53.
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70. Electromagnetic signals propagating on a computer network, comprising:
said electromagnetic signals carrying instructions for execution on a processor for the practice of the method of claim 44 or claim 53.
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53. A method for operating a switch, comprising:
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connecting a first port of said switch to a trunk link, said trunk link forming a path of a distributed token ring (TR) bridge to provide a path for traffic between an undistributed Concentrator (CRF) in said switch and other undistributed Concentrators located on other switches;
providing a second port of said switch to connect to said distributed token ring (TR) bridge to provide a portion of a backup network, said second port having a second undistributed CRF in said switch;
utilizing said second port as a backup port if the primary active port does not connect to a valid path to the network, the backup port providing a backup network path from said switch to said distributed token ring (TR) bridge; and
utilizing the backup network path in response to activation of a TR connection when a trunk link within the distributed TR bridge fails. - View Dependent Claims (54)
using a concentrator relay function in the switch as the concentrator, the concentrator relay function described in the IEEE 802.5 standard.
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55. A switch, comprising:
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a first port of said switch connected to a trunk link, said trunk link forming a path of a distributed token ring (TR) bridge to provide a path for traffic between an undistributed Concentrator (CRF) in said switch and other undistributed Concentrators located on other switches;
a second port of said switch connected to said distributed token ring (TR) bridge to provide a portion of a backup network, said second port having a second undistributed CRF in said switch; and
a circuit to utilize said second port as a backup port if the primary active port does not connect to a valid path to the network, the backup port providing a path from said switch to said distributed token ring (TR) bridge. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
the concentrator is a concentrator relay function in the switch, the concentrator relay function described in a IEEE 802.5 standard.
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57. The apparatus of claim 55 further comprising:
a backup network path which may be utilized by said switch if a primary active path is not a valid path.
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58. The apparatus of claim 55, further comprising:
said switch forming a part of a distributed CRF, a virtual local area network (VLAN) associated said distributed CRF, and the distributed CRF and associated VLAN are defined as a backup CRF VLAN by configuring a database of said switch.
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59. The apparatus of claim 58 further comprising:
said database is a distributed ring protocol (DRiP) database having a plurality of entries and the DRiP database is configured ion said switch to reflect a backup CRF VLAN status by asserting a backup bit for a particular entry.
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60. The apparatus of claim 55 further comprising:
assertion of the backup bit denotes that ports on the CRF VLAN are not disabled when the DRiP database indicates that another switch has a port configured on the same CRF VLAN.
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61. The apparatus of claim 55 further comprising:
a DRIP core process in said switch, said DRIP core process for implementing a conflict resolution policy when a port on more than one switch of the distributed CRF is active and configured at the same time, the conflict resolution policy selecting one port of a switch to be active for the backup CRF VLAN.
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62. The apparatus of claim 55 further comprising:
the conflict resolution policy is based on the medium access control address of each switch.
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63. The apparatus of claim 55 further comprising:
the backup network is an ATMLane network.
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64. The apparatus of claim 55 further comprising:
the trunk links are interswitch link (ISL) trunk links.
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65. A switch, comprising:
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a first port of said switch connected to a trunk link, said trunk link forming a path of a distributed token ring (TR) bridge to provide a path for traffic between an undistributed Concentrator (CRF) in said switch and other undistributed Concentrators located on other switches;
a second port of said switch connected to said distributed token ring (TR) bridge to provide a portion of a backup network, said second port having a second undistributed CRF in said switch;
a circuit to utilize said second port as a backup port if the primary active port does not connect to a valid path to the network, the backup port providing a backup network path from said switch to said distributed token ring (TR) bridge; and
a circuit to utilize the backup network path in response to activation of a TR connection when a trunk link within the distributed TR bridge fails.
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66. A switch, comprising:
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means for connecting a first port of said switch to a trunk link, said trunk link forming a path of a distributed token ring (TR) bridge to provide a path for traffic between an undistributed Concentrator (CRF) in said switch and other undistributed Concentrators located on other switches;
means for providing a second port of said switch to connect to said distributed token ring (TR) bridge to provide a portion of a backup network, said second port having a second undistributed CRF in said switch; and
means for utilizing said second port as a backup port if the primary active port does not connect to a valid path to the network, the backup port providing a backup network path from said switch to said distributed token ring (TR) bridge. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68)
means for using a concentrator relay function in the switch as the concentrator, the concentrator relay function described in the IEEE 802.5 standard.
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68. The apparatus of claim 66, further comprising:
means for utilizing the backup network path in response to activation of a TR connection when a trunk link within the distributed TR bridge fails.
Specification