Multi-point link aggregation spoofing

• US 6,687,751 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2000
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Hiscock, James Scott, Wils, Joris Johannes Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hu, Jinsong
• Application Number:
  US09/493,563
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 709/230, 709/231, 709/232, 370/401, 370/484
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40019 Details regarding a bus master
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/413 with random access, e.g. carrier-sense multiple-access with collision detection [CSMA-CD]

Abstract

A system with at least one, and preferably at least two, end devices that operates according to a point-to-point protocol such as the IEEE standard 802.3ad. The two end devices communicate with each other through a trunk cluster formed from a plurality of cluster devices. Each of the cluster devices has a synchronization means for configuring all of the cluster devices with a same logical identity to communicate with the end device according to the point-to-point protocol as if all of the cluster devices were a single device.

Claims

1. An aggregate link system, comprising:

a plurality of end stations operating using a point-to-point protocol;

a plurality of cluster devices forming a cluster, more than one of said cluster devices being in communication with more than one of said end stations, said cluster devices identifying connected said end stations;

an intra-cluster interconnect (ICI) providing communication between said cluster devices, said cluster devices share said identity of said connected end stations and commonly connected said end stations;

synchronization means (SM) in each of said cluster devices for configuring each said cluster device in communication with said commonly connected end stations to use a same logical identity for said point-to-point protocol.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said point-to-point protocol is IEEE standard 802.3ad;

said end devices are 802.3ad devices operating according to IEEE standard 802.3ad;

said synchronization means (SM) in each of said cluster devices configures each said cluster device to communicate with said 802.3ad devices according to the IEEE standard 802.3ad.

3. The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

one of said synchronization means is a master synchronization means (MSM) and determines cluster sync data for operating said cluster devices to communicate with said 802.3ad device according to the IEEE standard 802.3ad;

said MSM transfers said cluster sync data to said plurality of cluster devices through said ICI;

each said SM configures a respective cluster device according to said cluster sync data.

4. The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

each said cluster device includes 802.3ad means for individually operating a respective said cluster device according to the IEEE standard 802.3ad, said 802.3ad means being configurable by a respective said SM.

5. The system in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

said cluster devices exchange individual sync data with other said cluster devices and said synchronization means choose said MSM based on said individual sync data.

6. The system in accordance with claim 5, wherein:

said MSM determines said cluster sync data based on said individual sync data.

7. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

each said synchronization means in each of said cluster devices communicates with said synchronization means in other of said cluster devices through said ICI.

8. The system in accordance with claim 7, wherein:

said communication between said end stations and said cluster devices is through communication links, said ICI provides said communication between said cluster devices through said communication links.

9. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

one of said synchronization means exchanges individual sync data with another of said synchronization means, and both of said synchronization means configure said respective cluster device dependent on respective said sync data and said sync data from said other synchronization means.

10. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said ICI includes dedicated network links between said cluster devices.

11. The system in accordance with claim 10, wherein:

said ICI provides said communication between said cluster devices through third party devices.

12. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said end stations are single point devices.

13. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said end stations are multi-point devices.

14. An aggregate link system, comprising:

a cluster of cooperating cluster member devices;

an end device;

trunk links connecting each end device to each device in said cluster;

a coordinating link between said devices in said cluster of cooperating devices, said coordinating link being defined either by said end device and said trunk links or an intra cluster interconnect;

each of said cooperating cluster member devices having a synchronization means for establishing a logical point to point connection across multiple Ethernet links, one of said synchronization means being a master synchronization means provided at one of said cooperating cluster member devices such that the multi-point communication of the cluster behaves as a single point device.

15. An aggregate link system, comprising:

a cluster of cooperating cluster member devices;

an end device;

trunk links connecting each end device to each device in said cluster;

a coordinating link between said devices in said cluster of cooperating devices, said coordinating link being defined either by said end device and said trunk links or an intra cluster interconnect;

each of said cooperating cluster member devices having a synchronization means for establishing a logical point to point connection across multiple Ethernet links and coordinating such that the multi-point communication of the cluster behaves as a single point device.