Forwarding for network devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for implementing forwarding in a network device, comprising:
- receiving at the network device, a message advertising a route address and a next hop address;
assigning at the network device, a proxy IP address associated with a proxy MAC address to the next hop address, wherein the proxy IP address is not associated externally with any other network device but is defined internally in the network device for forwarding; and
advertising the route address and the proxy IP address at the network device;
wherein the proxy IP address is advertised in place of the next hop address for all route addresses through the network device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for implementing forwarding in network devices are provided. Proxy addresses are used in place of next hop addresses so that a large routing table is not required. Pairs of proxy IP and MAC addresses can be used to allow this optimization to occur completely transparent to any other device in the network. One or more smaller tables can be utilized in place of a large routing table to more efficiently implement forwarding. Additionally, the technique can be utilized without requiring modification of other hardware devices in the network.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for implementing forwarding in a network device, comprising:
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receiving at the network device, a message advertising a route address and a next hop address; assigning at the network device, a proxy IP address associated with a proxy MAC address to the next hop address, wherein the proxy IP address is not associated externally with any other network device but is defined internally in the network device for forwarding; and advertising the route address and the proxy IP address at the network device; wherein the proxy IP address is advertised in place of the next hop address for all route addresses through the network device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus, comprising:
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a processor that receives a message advertising a route address and a next hop address, assigns a proxy IP address associated with a proxy MAC address to the next hop address, and advertises the route address and the proxy IP address, wherein the proxy IP address is not associated externally with any other network device but is defined internally in the network device for forwarding and the proxy IP address is advertised in place of the next hop address for all route addresses through the network device; and a memory that stores data for the processor. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. An apparatus for implementing forwarding in a network device, comprising:
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means for receiving at the network device, a message advertising a route address and a next hop address; means for assigning at the network device, a proxy IP address associated with a proxy MAC address to the next hop address, wherein the proxy IP address is not associated externally with any other network device but is defined internally in the network device for forwarding and the proxy IP address is advertised in place of the next hop address for all route addresses through the network device; and means for advertising the route address and the proxy IP address at the network device.
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8. A method for implementing forwarding in a network device, comprising:
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receiving at the network device, a first message advertising a route IP address and a next hop address; associating at the network device, a proxy IP address with the next hop address, wherein the proxy IP address is associated with a proxy MAC address and the proxy MAC address is associated with the next hop address; advertising at the network device, the route IP address and the proxy IP address; upon receiving at the network device, an ARP request for the proxy IP address specified by a packet, responding with the proxy MAC address; receiving at the network device, the packet that includes the proxy MAC address; using the proxy MAC address to determine the next hop address at the network device; and forwarding the packet from the network device to the next hop address. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus, comprising:
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a processor that receives a first message advertising a route IP address and a next hop address;
associates a proxy IP address with the next hop address, wherein the proxy IP address is associated with a proxy MAC address and the proxy MAC address is associated with the next hop address;
advertises the route IP address and the proxy IP address;
upon receiving an ARP request for the proxy IP address specified by a packet, responds with the proxy MAC address;
receives the packet that includes the proxy MAC address;
uses the proxy MAC address to determine the next hop address; and
forwards the packet to the next hop address; anda memory that stores data for the processor.
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19. An apparatus for implementing forwarding in a network device, comprising:
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means for receiving at the network device, a first message advertising a route IP address and a next hop address; means for associating at the network device, a proxy IP address with the next hop address, wherein the proxy IP address is associated with a proxy MAC address and the proxy MAC address is associated with the next hop address; means for advertising at the network device, the route IP address and the proxy IP address; means for, upon receiving at the network device, an ARP request for the proxy IP address specified by a packet, responding with the proxy MAC address; means for receiving at the network device, the packet that includes the proxy MAC address; means for using at the network device, the proxy MAC address to determine the next hop address; and means for forwarding the packet from the network device to the next hop address.
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Specification