Method for assigning network addresses

• US 7,254,625 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2001
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PacketLight Networks Limited (Zisapel Family)
• Original Assignee: PacketLight Networks Limited (Zisapel Family)
• Inventors: Gluska, Eran, Viner, Omri, Shahar, Irit, Mesh, Michael, Porat, Yuval, Cheskis, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOLD, AVI M
• Application Number:
  US09/952,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20030051014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,154 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/222, 709/223
• US Class Current: 709/222
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/50 Address allocation

Abstract

An IP address assignment method including assigning a chassis serial number to a node during manufacture, generating an array of unique IP addresses composed using the chassis serial number, and assigning a unique IP address from the array to each interface associated with the node.

Claims

1. A method for assigning IP addresses in a network including a node with a chassis and a plurality of interfaces, comprising:

obtaining from the chassis a permanent and unique serial number assigned during manufacture, and assigning said permanent and unique serial number to the node;

generating an array of unique IP addresses composed using said permanent and unique chassis serial number; and

assigning a unique IP address from said array to the node and to each interface associated with said node.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

a node main IP address is composed during power-up of the node, based on said permanent and unique chassis serial number; and

a plurality of associated interface addresses is composed, based on said node main IP address.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said step of generating an array includes generating a array of 64 unique IP addresses, each including 32 bits.

4. The method according to claim 2, further including reserving a special pool of DHCP IP addresses to be distributed in a LAN network for connection to said node.

5. The method according to claim 2, further including reserving a special pool of IPCP IP addresses to be distributed to dial-up users for connection to said node.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the IP address of each interface is composed from said node main IP address, a slot number of a card in said node associated with said interface, and a number of a port on the card associated with the interface.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of generating an array includes generating a array of 64 unique IP addresses, each including 32 bits.

8. The method according to claim 1, further including reserving a special pool of DHCP IP addresses to be distributed in a LAN network for connection to said node.

9. The method according to claim 1, further including reserving a special pool of IPCP IP addresses to be distributed to dial-up users for connection to said node.

10. The method according to claim 1, additionally comprising assigning a permanent and unique serial number to the chassis during manufacture.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the permanent and unique serial number is burned into a non-volatile memory chip on the chassis.

12. A computer program product for IP address assignment in a network including a node with a chassis and a plurality of interfaces, comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for a computer, the set of instructions, when executed by the computer, causing the computer to perform the steps of;

obtaining from the chassis a permanent and unique serial number assigned during manufacture, and assigning said permanent and unique serial number to the node;

generating an array of unique IP addresses composed using the permanent and unique chassis serial number assigned to the node; and

assigning a unique IP address from said array to the node and to each interface associated with said node.

13. The computer program product according to claim 12, wherein the set of instructions causes the assignment of a unique main node IP address to the node upon power-up of the node, and subsequent assignment of a unique IP address to each element associated with the node from said array based on the main node IP address.