Method and system for initializing host location information across smart bridge topology changes
First Claim
1. In a bridged network having a plurality of hosts coupled to a plurality of segments interconnected by at least one bridge, a method for initializing host location information in response to a network topology change, comprising:
- obtaining prior host location information, said prior host location information being at least a partial representation of host locations in the bridged network before the network topology change, and said prior host location information comprising segment identifier information;
obtaining hints about changes in host locations as a result of the network topology change;
modifying the prior host location information according to said hints to obtain initial host location information, said initial host location information comprising at least a valid host location or a value indicative of an unknown host location, after the network topology change;
wherein the bridged network includes a root bridge and at least one other bridge, and obtaining hints about host location changes comprises;
receiving from the at least one other bridge local topology information associated with the at least one other bridge; and
inferring segment-renaming hints from the received local topology information and local topology information associated with the root bridge;
wherein obtaining prior host location information comprises extracting host location information stored in the root bridge;
wherein obtaining the prior host location information further comprises sending from the root bridge to the at least one other bridge a request for additional host location information and receiving from the at least one other bridge the additional host location information; and
wherein the host location information stored in the root bridge includes a list of hosts each mapped to an identifier of a segment to which the host was coupled before the network topology change, and wherein the request for additional host location information includes a list of segment identifiers in the host location information stored in the root bridge.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network includes multiple segments and bridges interconnecting the segments, with hosts coupled to the segments. The bridges are smart bridges that each perform a host location initialization function. The host location initialization function in one bridge is performed in corporation with all other bridges in the bridged network via an instance through a propagation order spanning tree (POST). The initialization method includes obtaining prior host location information which is at least a partial representation of the host locations in the bridged network before the network topology change, obtaining hints on host location changes resulting from the network topology change, and modifying the prior host location information according to the hints to construct host location information for initialization. Location information for at least a portion of the hosts in the bridged network is preserved or discovered quickly each time when the network topology changes.
19 Citations
29 Claims
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1. In a bridged network having a plurality of hosts coupled to a plurality of segments interconnected by at least one bridge, a method for initializing host location information in response to a network topology change, comprising:
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obtaining prior host location information, said prior host location information being at least a partial representation of host locations in the bridged network before the network topology change, and said prior host location information comprising segment identifier information; obtaining hints about changes in host locations as a result of the network topology change; modifying the prior host location information according to said hints to obtain initial host location information, said initial host location information comprising at least a valid host location or a value indicative of an unknown host location, after the network topology change; wherein the bridged network includes a root bridge and at least one other bridge, and obtaining hints about host location changes comprises; receiving from the at least one other bridge local topology information associated with the at least one other bridge; and inferring segment-renaming hints from the received local topology information and local topology information associated with the root bridge; wherein obtaining prior host location information comprises extracting host location information stored in the root bridge; wherein obtaining the prior host location information further comprises sending from the root bridge to the at least one other bridge a request for additional host location information and receiving from the at least one other bridge the additional host location information; and wherein the host location information stored in the root bridge includes a list of hosts each mapped to an identifier of a segment to which the host was coupled before the network topology change, and wherein the request for additional host location information includes a list of segment identifiers in the host location information stored in the root bridge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a bridged network having a plurality of hosts each coupled to one of a plurality of network segments interconnected by a plurality of bridges, each host having a location in the bridged network, each bridge storing a piece of host location information, a method for initializing host location information stored in each bridge, comprising:
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detecting changes in network topology; in response to a detected change in network topology, sending a request for host locations initialization from one bridge to other bridges in the bridged network; receiving responses from said other bridges; constructing initial host location information based on said responses and on host location information stored in said one bridge, said initial host location information comprising at least a valid host location or a value indicative of an unknown host location in the bridged network after the change in network topology, and further comprising segment identifier information; and sending said initial host location information to said other bridges; wherein each bridge stores a total network report, said total network report being a description of bridge-to-network connections in the bridged network, wherein said responses comprise information of bridge-to-network connections associated with said other bridges, and wherein constructing initial host location information comprises; constructing a new total network report based on said responses; inferring segment-renaming hints by comparing said new total network report with said total network report stored in said one bridge that has received said responses; and constructing said initial host location information based on said inferred hints, said responses, and host location information stored in said one bridge. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A bridged network, comprising:
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a plurality of network segments; a plurality of hosts, each coupled to a network segment; and a plurality of smart bridges, each having memory spaces for storing a host locations table, and configured to initiate a host locations initialization instance upon detecting a change in network topology, said host location initialization instance comprising; sending a request for host locations initialization from one bridge to other bridges in the bridged network; receiving responses from said other bridges; constructing initial host location information based on said responses and on said host locations table in said one bridge, said initial host location information comprising at least a valid host location or a value indicative of an unknown host location in the bridged network after the change in network topology, and further comprising segment identifier information; sending said initial host location information to said other bridges; and rewriting said host location table in each bridge in accordance with said initial host location information; wherein each bridge includes memory spaces for storing a total network report, said total network report being a description of bridge-to-network connections in the bridged network, wherein said responses comprise information of bridge-to-network connections associated with said other bridges, and wherein said one bridge receiving said responses is configured to; construct a new total network report based on said responses; infer segment-renaming hints by comparing said new total network report with said total network report stored in said one bridge; and construct said initial host location information based on said inferred hints, said responses, and host location information stored in said one bridge. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A smart bridge in a bridged network having network segments and hosts coupled to said network segments, comprising:
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a plurality of bridge ports, at least a portion of the bridge ports being connected to at least a portion of said network segments, each bridge port providing transmit and receive services for the smart bridge; at least one segment inventory module coupled to said bridge ports and configured to detect network topology changes associated with said portion of said network segments; a host locations initialization module coupled to said segment inventory modules and configured to initiate a host locations initialization instance in response to detected change in network topology; a memory unit storing a host location table, said host location table being a description of locations of said hosts in said bridged network; and wherein said host locations initialization instance comprising; transmitting a request to join said instance to said bridged network via said bridge ports; receiving responses from said bridged network via said bridge ports; constructing initial host location information based on said responses and on said host locations table, said initial host location information comprising at least a valid host location or a value indicative of an unknown host location in the bridged network after the change in network topology, and further comprising segment identifier information; sending said initial host location information to said bridged network via said ports; and rewriting said host location table in said smart bridge in accordance with said initial host location information; wherein said host locations initialization module is further configured to, in response to receiving a first request to join a host locations initialization instance, transmit a second request to join said instance to the bridged network via said bridge ports. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification