Site-to-site dynamic virtual local area network

• US 7,532,576 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2003
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Amberg, Richard, Wiedeman, Dennis M., Baker, Eugene, Potter, Dwayne R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moe; Aung S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grey; Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US10/650,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20040218538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,086 Days
• Field of Search: 370241-253, 370/338, 370/395.53, 370/401, 370/402, 370/389, 370/395, 370/53, 709/224, 709/229, 709/227, 714/712
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4675 Dynamic sharing of VLAN information amongst network nodes configuration of the network or of network elements H04L41/08

Abstract

A system for dynamically implementing a plurality of virtual local area networks (“VLANs”) across multiple sites is provided. The system includes a first VLAN-capable switch at a first site; a first system under test (“SUT”) connected to the first VLAN-capable switch via a first burn rack switch; a second VLAN-capable switch located at a second site remote from the first site; a second SUT connected to the second VLAN-capable switch via a second burn rack switch. The first and second VLAN-capable switches are connected such that the first and second SUTs are connected to a single virtual private network (“VPN”). The connection may include either first and second routers respectively connected to the first and second VLAN-capable switches and interconnected via a T1 line or an ATM connection. The system may also include a first VLAN-capable switch located at a first site; a first system under test (“SUT”) connected to the first VLAN-capable switch via a first burn rack switch; a second VLAN-capable switch located at a second site remote from the first site; a customer network located at a customer site remote from the first and second sites and connected to the second VLAN-capable switch via a router; and an ATM connection between the first and second VLAN-capable switches such that the first SUT and the customer network are connected to a single virtual private network (“VPN”). In this embodiment, the connection between the second site and customer site may be either an Internet connection or a high speed point-to-point connection.

Claims

1. A system for dynamically implementing a virtual LAN (VLAN) across multiple sites, the system comprising:

a first VLAN-capable switch located at a local site;

a first uniquely identified system under test (first SUT) located at the local site and connected to the first VLAN-capable switch;

a second VLAN-capable switch located at a remote site;

a second uniquely identified SUT (second SUT) located at the remote site and connected to the second VLAN-capable switch;

a connection between the first VLAN-capable switch and the second VLAN capable switch such that the first and second SUTs are dynamically connected to or disconnected from a VLAN; and

a local burn rack located at the local site for receiving the first SUT and a remote burn rack located at the remote site for receiving the second SUT such that the first and second SUTs are tested and software is configured while operating together on the VLAN.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the local site is a manufacturing facility.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote site is a manufacturing facility.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote site is a customer'"'"'s site.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote site is a customer'"'"'s server.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the VLAN is private.

7. A system for dynamically implementing a virtual LAN (VLAN) across multiple sites, the system comprising:

a first VLAN-capable switch located at a local site;

a plurality of first uniquely identified systems under test (SUTs) located at the local site and connected to the first VLAN-capable switch;

a second VLAN-capable switch located at a remote site;

a plurality of second uniquely identified SUTs, located at the remote site and connected to the second VLAN-capable switch;

a connection between the first VLAN-capable switch and the second VLAN capable switch such that first and second SUTs are dynamically connected to or disconnected from a VLAN; and

a local burn rack located at the local site for receiving the plurality of first SUTs and a remote burn rack located at the remote site for receiving the plurality of second SUTs such that first and second SUTs are tested and software is configured while operating together on the VLAN.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the local site is a manufacturing facility.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the remote site is a manufacturing facility.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the remote site is a customer'"'"'s site.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the remote site is a customer'"'"'s server.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the VLAN is private.

13. A system for dynamically implementing a virtual LAN (VLAN) across multiple sites, the system comprising:

a first VLAN-capable switch located at a local site;

a plurality of uniquely identified systems under test (SUTs) located at the local site and connected to the first VLAN-capable switch;

a second VLAN-capable switch located at a remote site;

a plurality of customer sites connected to the remote site;

a connection between the first VLAN-capable switch and the second VLAN capable switch such that the plurality of SUTs and the plurality of customer sites are dynamically connected to or disconnected from a VLAN; and

a local burn rack located at the local site for receiving the plurality of SUTs such that the plurality of SUTs are tested and software is configured while operating together on the VLAN.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of customer sites is connected to the remote site by an Internet connection therebetween.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the local site is a manufacturing facility.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the remote site is a manufacturing facility.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of customer sites includes customer'"'"'s servers.

18. A system for dynamically implementing a virtual LAN (VLAN) across multiple sites, the system comprising:

a first VLAN-capable switch located at a local site;

a plurality of uniquely identified systems under test (SUTs) located at the local site and connected to the first VLAN-capable switch;

a second VLAN-capable switch located at a remote site;

a plurality of customer sites connected to the remote site;

a connection between the first VLAN-capable switch and the second VLAN capable switch such that the plurality of SUTs and the plurality of customer sites are dynamically connected to or disconnected from a VLAN; and

a local burn rack located at the local site for receiving the plurality of SUTs such that the plurality of SUTs are tested and software is configured while operating together on the VLAN using information from a customer site to configure the plurality of SUTs.

19. A system for dynamically implementing a virtual LAN (VLAN) across multiple sites, the system comprising:

a first VLAN-capable switch located at a local site;

a plurality of uniquely identified systems under test (SUTs) located at the local site and connected to the first VLAN-capable switch;

a second VLAN-capable switch located at a remote site;

a plurality of customer sites connected to the remote site;

a connection between the first VLAN-capable switch and the second VLAN capable switch such that the plurality of SUTs and the plurality of customer sites are dynamically connected to or disconnected from a VLAN; and

a local burn rack located at the local site for receiving the plurality of SUTs such that the plurality of SUTs are tested and software is configured while operating together on the VLAN using information from a plurality of customer sites to configure the plurality of SUTs.

20. A system for dynamically implementing a virtual LAN (VLAN) across multiple sites, the system comprising:

a first VLAN-capable switch located at a local site;

a plurality of uniquely identified systems under test (SUTs) located at the local site and connected to the first VLAN-capable switch;

a second VLAN-capable switch located at a remote site;

a customer site connected to the remote site;

a connection between the first VLAN-capable switch and the second VLAN capable switch such that the plurality of SUTs and the customer site are dynamically connected to or disconnected from a VLAN; and

a local burn rack located at the local site for receiving the plurality of SUTs such that the plurality of SUTs is tested and software is configured while operating together on the VLAN.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the customer site is connected to the remote site by a router.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the local site is a manufacturing facility.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein the remote site is a manufacturing facility.

24. The system of claim 20 wherein the customer site is a customer server.

25. The system of claim 20 wherein the customer site includes configuration information.

26. A system for dynamically implementing a virtual LAN (VLAN) across multiple sites, the system comprising:

a first VLAN-capable switch located at a local site;

a plurality of uniquely identified systems under test (SUTs) located at the local site and connected to the first VLAN-capable switch;

a second VLAN-capable switch located at a remote site;

a customer site connected to the remote site;

a connection between the first VLAN-capable switch and the second VLAN capable switch such that the plurality of SUTs and the customer site are dynamically connected to or disconnected from a VLAN; and

a local burn rack located at the local site for receiving the plurality of SUTs such that the plurality of SUTs are tested and software is configured while operating together on the VLAN using information from a customer site to configure the plurality of SUTs.

27. A method for dynamically implementing a virtual LAN (VLAN) across multiple sites, comprising:

providing a first VLAN-capable switch located at a local site;

locating a first uniquely identified system under test (first SUT) at the local site and connecting the first SUT to the first VLAN-capable switch;

providing a second VLAN-capable switch located at a remote site;

locating a second uniquely identified SUT (second SUT) at the remote site and connecting the second SUT to the second VLAN-capable switch;

providing a connection between the first VLAN-capable switch and the second VLAN capable switch such that the first and second SUTs are dynamically connected to or disconnected from a VLAN; and

locating a local burn rack at the local site for receiving the SUTs such that the SUTs are tested and software is configured while operating together on the VLAN.