Method and apparatus for implementing a MAC address pool for assignment to a virtual interface aggregate

• US 7,444,405 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2005
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Network Appliance Incorporated (NetApp, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Network Appliance Incorporated (NetApp, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gangadharan, SushilKumar
• Primary Examiner(s): BAROT, BHARAT
• Application Number:
  US11/085,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20050163123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-203, 709225-228, 709/245, 709249-250, 370389-393, 370/401, 370/475
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/677 Multiple interfaces, e.g. multihomed nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A method to implement an address pool is described. The method collects at least one address, the at least one address originally assigned as a unique address to at least one physical interface of a computer. Each originally assigned address is modified to be a plurality of modified addresses. The plurality of modified addresses is organized as an address pool. A selected modified address from the pool is assigned as a unique address for the pool. The selected modified address is used in contacting the computer in response to receiving a message addressed to an address of the pool.

Claims

1. A method for implementing an address pool, comprising:

collecting at least one address, the at least one address originally assigned as a unique address to at least one physical interface of a computer;

modifying said each originally assigned address to be a plurality of modified addresses;

organizing the plurality of modified addresses as the address pool; and

assigning a selected modified address from the pool as a unique address for the pool, the selected modified address to use in contacting the computer in response to receiving a message addressed to an address of the pool.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

asserting at least one locally administered bit to make the address originally assigned as a unique address a plurality of modified addresses.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

asserting a plurality of locally administered bits to make the address originally assigned as a unique address a plurality of modified addresses.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using the computer as a server.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using as the at least one address a 48 bit medium access control (MAC) address.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning an address of a network interface card as the unique address.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a plurality of MAC addresses assigned to a network adapter of the computer;

modifying at least one address of the plurality of MAC addresses to form a modified MAC address; and

assigning the modified MAC address for communication with the computer.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the originally assigned address by asserting a predetermined bit of the address.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

loading an application specific integrated circuit with the selected modified address; and

identifying a packet received by the computer by comparing an address carried in the packet with the selected modified address using the application specific integrated circuit.

10. A computer apparatus having a network adapter, the network adapter having an address, comprising:

a processor coupled to the network adapter;

an operating system executable by the processor, the operating system having a virtual interface process configured to collect addresses originally assigned to the network adapter, the virtual interface process modifying each originally assigned address by asserting a predetermined bit of the address to form a pool of modified addresses, and the virtual interface process to assign a selected modified address from the pool as a modified address for the computer.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

the address is a medium access control (MAC) addresses; and

the predetermined bit is bit 46 of the MAC address.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

means for returning the selected modified address to the pool.

13. A computer apparatus having a network adapter, the network adapter having at least one address, comprising:

means for collecting the least one address, the at least one address originally assigned as a unique address to at least one physical interface of the computer;

means for modifying said each originally assigned address to be a plurality of modified addresses;

means for organizing the plurality of modified addresses as an address pool; and

means for assigning a selected modified address from the pool as a unique address for the pool, the selected modified address to use in contacting the computer in response to receiving a message addressed to an address of the pool.

14. The apparatus as in claim 13, comprising:

means for asserting at least one locally administered bit to make the address originally assigned as a unique address a plurality of modified addresses.

15. The apparatus as in claim 13, comprising:

means for asserting a plurality of locally administered bits to make the address originally assigned as a unique address a plurality of modified addresses.

16. The apparatus as in claim 13, comprising:

means for using the computer as a server.

17. The apparatus as in claim 13, comprising:

means for using as the at least one address a 48 bit medium access control (MAC) address.

18. The apparatus as in claim 13, comprising:

means for assigning an address of a network interface card as the unique address.

19. The apparatus as in claim 13, comprising:

means for obtaining a plurality of MAC addresses assigned to a network adapter of the computer;

means for modifying at least one address of the plurality of MAC addresses to form a modified MAC address; and

means for assigning the modified MAC address for communication with the computer.

20. The apparatus as in claim 13, comprising:

means for modifying the originally assigned address by asserting a predetermined bit of the address.

21. The apparatus as in claim 13, comprising:

means for loading an application specific integrated circuit with the selected modified address; and

means for identifying a packet received by the computer by comparing an address carried in the packet with the selected modified address using the application specific integrated circuit.

22. A computer readable media, comprising:

said computer readable media containing instructions for execution on a processor for the practice of a method for implementing an address pool, the method having the steps of,

collecting at least one address, the at least one address originally assigned as a unique address to at least one physical interface of a computer;

modifying said each originally assigned address to be a plurality of modified addresses;

organizing the plurality of modified address pool; and

assigning a selected modified address from the pool as a unique address for the pool, the selected modified address to use in contacting the computer in response to receiving a message addressed to an address of the pool.