DLSw RIF passthru technique for providing end-to-end source route information to end stations of a data link switching network
First Claim
1. A method for providing end-to-end source route information to source and destination end stations coupled to respective local and remote source-route bridge (SRB) subnetworks of a data link switching (DLSw) network, the local and remote SRB subnetworks including respective local and remote DLSw peer devices that communicate over an intermediate wide area network (WAN), the method comprising the steps of:
- extracting the source route information from a routing information field (RIF) of a first token ring (TR) explorer frame at the local DLSw device;
loading the source route information into a first control vector at the local DLSw device;
transporting the first control vector over the WAN to the remote DLSw device;
extracting the source route information from the first control vector at the remote DLSw device;
loading the extracted source route information into a RIF of a second TR explorer frame; and
transmitting the second TR explorer frame over the remote SRB subnetwork to the destination end station such that, upon receiving the second TR explorer frame, the destination end station has complete source route information representative of an end-to-end session with the source end station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data link switching (DLSw) routing information field (RIF) passthru technique provides end-to-end source route information to source and destination endstations coupled to respective local and remote source-route bridge (SRB) subnetworks of a DLSw network. The local and remote SRB subnetworks include respective local and remote DLSw peer switches that communicate over an intermediate wide area nework to form the DLSw network. The source route information describes a complete path between the source endstation and the local DLSw switch on the local SRB subnetwork, and the remote DLSw switch and destination endstation on the remote SRB subnetwork. The DLSw RIF passthru technique enables token ring frame exchanges between the source and destination endstations with end-to-end source route information that is transparently forwarded between the DLSw peer switches.
49 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for providing end-to-end source route information to source and destination end stations coupled to respective local and remote source-route bridge (SRB) subnetworks of a data link switching (DLSw) network, the local and remote SRB subnetworks including respective local and remote DLSw peer devices that communicate over an intermediate wide area network (WAN), the method comprising the steps of:
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extracting the source route information from a routing information field (RIF) of a first token ring (TR) explorer frame at the local DLSw device;
loading the source route information into a first control vector at the local DLSw device;
transporting the first control vector over the WAN to the remote DLSw device;
extracting the source route information from the first control vector at the remote DLSw device;
loading the extracted source route information into a RIF of a second TR explorer frame; and
transmitting the second TR explorer frame over the remote SRB subnetwork to the destination end station such that, upon receiving the second TR explorer frame, the destination end station has complete source route information representative of an end-to-end session with the source end station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus for providing end-to-end source route information to source and destination end stations coupled to respective local and remote source-route bridge (SRB) subnetworks of a data link switching (DLSw) network, the local and remote SRB subnetworks including respective local and remote DLSw peer devices that communicate over an intermediate wide area Newark (WAN), the apparatus comprising:
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means for extracting the source route information from a routing information field (RIF) of a first token ring (TR) explorer frame at the local DLSw device;
means for loading the source route information into a first control vector at the local DLSw device;
means for transporting the first control vector over the WAN to the remote DLSw device;
means for extracting the source route information from the first control vector at the remote DLSw device;
means for loading the extracted source route information into a RIF of a second TR explorer frame; and
means for transmitting the second TR explorer frame over the remote SRB subnetwork to the destination end station such that, upon receiving the second TR explorer frame, the destination end station has complete source route information representative of an end-to-end session with the source end station.
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9. Apparatus for providing end-to-end source route information to source and destination end stations coupled to respective local and remote source-route bridge (SRB) subnetworks of a data link switching (DLSw) network, the local and remote SRB subnetworks including respective local and remote DLSw peer devices that communicate over an intermediate wide area network (WAN) in accordance with DLSw routing information field (RIF) passthru functionality, the apparatus comprising:
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a memory for storing a plurality of capability message data structures exchanged among the DLSw peer devices to determine whether the peer devices support DLSw RIF passthru functionality, wherein a first of the plurality of message data structures comprises a DLSw RIF passthru exchange vector that indicates whether the DLSw peer devices support DLSw RIF passthru functionality;
a processor coupled to the memory and configured to process the message data structures; and
a network adapter coupled to the processor and memory for transmitting and receiving the message data structures to and from the WAN. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for operating a router, comprising:
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exchanging capabilities exchange messages with a remote router to inform said remote router that said router supports RIF passthrough capability;
receiving, in response to said remote router learning that said router supports RIF passthrough capability, a first control vector from said remote router, said first control vector having source route information from a routing information field (RIF) of a first token ring (TR) explorer frame transmitted by a source end station on a first TR network, said first control vector created at said remote router connected to said first TR network;
extracting said source route information from said first control vector;
loading said extracted source route information into a RIF of a second TR explorer frame; and
transmitting said second TR explorer frame on a second TR network to a destination end station to provide said destination end station with complete source route information representative of an end-to-end session with said source end station. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A router, comprising:
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means for exchanging capabilities exchange messages with a remote router to inform said remote router that said router supports RIF passthrough capability;
means for receiving, in response to said remote router learning that said router supports RIF passthrough capability, a first control vector from said remote router, said first control vector having source route information from a routing information field (RIF) of a first token ring (TR) explorer frame transmitted by a source end station on a first TR network, said first control vector created at said remote router connected to said first TR network;
means for extracting said source route information from said first control vector;
means for loading said extracted source route information into a RIF of a second TR explorer frame; and
means for transmitting said second TR explorer frame on a second TR network to a destination end station to provide said destination end station with complete source route information representative of an end-to-end session with said source end station.
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23. A router, comprising:
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a network adapter to exchange capabilities exchange messages with a remote router to inform said remote router that said router supports RIF passthrough capability and, in response to said remote router learning that said router supports RIF passthrough capability, said router to receive a first control vector, said first control vector having source route information from a routing information field (RIF) of a first token ring (TR) explorer frame transmitted by a source end station on a first TR network, said first control vector created at said remote router connected to said first TR network;
a processor to extract said source route information from said first control vector and to load said extracted source route information into a RIF of a second TR explorer frame; and
a network adapter to transmit said second TR explorer frame on a second TR network to a destination end station to provide said destination end station with complete source route information representative of an end-to-end session with said source end station. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A computer readable media, said computer readable media containing instructions for execution in a processor for the practice of the method of providing end-to-end source route information to source and destination end stations coupled to respective local and remote source-route bridge (SRB) subnetworks of a data link switching (DLSw) network, the local and remote SRB subnetworks including respective local and remote DLSw peer devices that communicate over an intermediate wide area Newark (WAN), comprising:
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extracting the source route information from a routing information field (RIF) of a first token ring (TR) explorer frame at the local DLSw device;
loading the source route information into a first control vector at the local DLSw device;
transporting the first control vector over the WAN to the remote DLSw device;
extracting the source route information from the first control vector at the remote DLSw device;
loading the extracted source route information into a RIF of a second TR explorer frame; and
transmitting the second TR explorer frame over the remote SRB subnetwork to the destination end station such that, upon receiving the second TR explorer frame, the destination end station has complete source route information representative of an end-to-end session with the source end station.
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26. Electromagnetic signals propagating on a computer network, said electromagnetic signals carrying instructions for execution on a processor for the practice of the method of providing end-to-end source route information to source and destination end stations coupled to respective local and remote source-route bridge (SRB) subnetworks of a data link switching (DLSw) network, the local and remote SRB subnetworks including respective local and remote DLSw peer devices that communicate over an intermediate wide area network (WAN), the method comprising the steps of:
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extracting the source route information from a routing information field (RIF) of a first token ring (TR) explorer frame at the local DLSw device;
loading the source route information into a first control vector at the local DLSw device;
transporting the first control vector over the WAN to the remote DLSw device;
extracting the source route information from the first control vector at the remote DLSw device;
loading the extracted source route information into a RIF of a second TR explorer frame; and
transmitting the second TR explorer frame-over the remote SRB subnetwork to the destination end station such that, upon receiving the second TR explorer frame, the destination end station has complete source route information representative of an end-to-end session with the source end station.
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27. A computer readable media, said computer readable media containing instructions for execution in a processor for the practice of a method of operating a router, comprising:
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exchanging capabilities exchange messages with a remote router to inform said remote router that said router supports RIF passthrough capability;
receiving, in response to said remote router learning that said router supports RIF passthrough capability, a first control vector from said remote router, said first control vector having source route information from a routing information field (RIF) of a first token ring (TR) explorer frame transmitted by a source end station on a first TR network, said first control vector created at said remote router connected to said first TR network;
extracting said source route information from said first control vector;
loading said extracted source route information into a RIF of a second TR explorer frame; and
transmitting said second TR explorer frame on a second TR network to a destination end station to provide said destination end station with complete source route information representative of an end-to-end session with said source end station.
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28. Electromagnetic signals propagating on a computer network, said electromagnetic signals carrying instructions for execution on a processor for the practice of a method of operating a router, comprising:
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exchanging capabilities exchange messages with a remote router to inform said remote router that said router supports RIF passthrough capability;
receiving, in response to said remote router learning that said router supports RIF passthrough capability, a first control vector from said remote router, said first control vector having source route information from a routing information field (RIF) of a first token ring (TR) explorer frame transmitted by a source end station on a first TR network, said first control vector created at said remote router connected to said first TR network;
extracting said source route information from said first control vector;
loading said extracted source route information into a RIF of a second TR explorer frame; and
transmitting said second TR explorer frame on a second TR network to a destination end station to provide said destination end station with complete source route information representative of an end-to-end session with said source end station.
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Specification