Method and apparatus for determining a multilayer switching path
First Claim
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1. A method of determining a multilayer switching path in a network, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining a Layer 3 path through the network from a first device to a second device;
determining a Layer 2 path through the network from the first device to the second device;
selecting a route processor that is included in both the Layer 3 path and in the Layer 2 path;
selecting a switch that multilayer switches the route processor;
based on the selected switch, generating information that defines the multilayer switching path from the first device to the second device.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus that provide for determining a multilayer switching path are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a Layer 3 path and a Layer 2 path between a source device and destination device are first determined in order to identify the relevant switch engines that perform the multilayer switching. Determining whether the switch engines satisfy a set of criteria identifies the relevant switch engines.
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28 Claims
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1. A method of determining a multilayer switching path in a network, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a Layer 3 path through the network from a first device to a second device; determining a Layer 2 path through the network from the first device to the second device; selecting a route processor that is included in both the Layer 3 path and in the Layer 2 path; selecting a switch that multilayer switches the route processor; based on the selected switch, generating information that defines the multilayer switching path from the first device to the second device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for determining a multilayer switching path in a network, the apparatus comprising:
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means for determining a Layer 3 path through the network from a first device to a second device; means for determining a Layer 2 path through the network from the first device to the second device; means for selecting a route processor that is included in both the Layer 3 path and in the Layer 2 path; means for selecting a switch that multilayer switches the route processor; means for generating, based on the switch selection, information that defines the multilayer switching path from the first device to the second device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for determining a multilayer switching path in a network, the apparatus comprising:
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a network interface that receives one or more messages from the network; one or more processors couples to the network interface to receive the messages; a memory accessible to the one or more processors; and one or more sequences of instructions stored in the memory which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of; determining a Layer 3 path through the network from a first device to a second device; determining a Layer 2 path through the network from the first device to the second device; selecting a route processor that is included in both the Layer 3 path and in the Layer 2 path; selecting a switch that multilayer switches the route processor; based on the selected switch, generating information that defines the multilayer switching path from the first device to the second device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for determining a multilayer switching path in a network, the system comprising:
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a first device in the network; a second device in the network; one or more route processors; one or more switches; and a third device in the network, wherein the third device is configured to; determine a Layer 3 path through the network from the first device to the second device; determine a Layer 2 path through the network from the first device to the second device; select from the one or more route processors a particular route processor that is included in both the Layer 3 path and in the Layer 2 path; select from the one or more switches a particular switch that multilayer switches the particular route processor; generate, based on selecting the particular switch, information that defines the multilayer switching path from the first device to the second device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification