Techniques for dynamic host configuration using overlapping network addresses
First Claim
1. An apparatus for managing leased network addresses for a plurality of networks using overlapping address spaces, comprising:
- a network interface that is coupled to one or more intermediate devices connected to the plurality of networks;
a processor; and
one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause performing;
storing a plurality of banks of addresses corresponding to the plurality of networks, wherein each bank includes a pool of available addresses and a data structure of leased addresses, wherein at least one particular set of one or more network addresses is included in more than one bank of the plurality of banks;
receiving a request for a network address for a host on a first network of the plurality of networks from a relay agent on an intermediate device connected to the first network, the request including a qualifier associated with the first network by the relay agent;
based on the qualifier, selecting a first bank of addresses from the plurality of banks;
identifying a first network address from the first bank of addresses based at least in part on the request; and
sending to the relay agent a response for the host, the response indicating the first network address and the qualifier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for managing leased network addresses for multiple networks using overlapping address spaces include storing banks of addresses corresponding to the multiple networks. A request for a network address for a host on a first network is received from a relay agent on an intermediate device. The request includes a qualifier associated with the first network by the relay agent. A first bank of addresses is selected based on the qualifier. A first network address from the first bank is identified based at least in part on the request. A response for the host is sent to the relay agent. The response indicates the first network address and the qualifier. Thus a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server can provide the same network address for several hosts spread over different networks, such as different virtual private networks (VPNs).
58 Citations
44 Claims
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1. An apparatus for managing leased network addresses for a plurality of networks using overlapping address spaces, comprising:
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a network interface that is coupled to one or more intermediate devices connected to the plurality of networks; a processor; and one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause performing; storing a plurality of banks of addresses corresponding to the plurality of networks, wherein each bank includes a pool of available addresses and a data structure of leased addresses, wherein at least one particular set of one or more network addresses is included in more than one bank of the plurality of banks; receiving a request for a network address for a host on a first network of the plurality of networks from a relay agent on an intermediate device connected to the first network, the request including a qualifier associated with the first network by the relay agent; based on the qualifier, selecting a first bank of addresses from the plurality of banks; identifying a first network address from the first bank of addresses based at least in part on the request; and sending to the relay agent a response for the host, the response indicating the first network address and the qualifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus configurable as an intermediate device for managing leased network addresses for a plurality of networks using overlapping address spaces, comprising:
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means for storing a plurality of qualifiers corresponding to a plurality of interfaces included in the intermediate device, each qualifier uniquely identifying one network of the plurality of networks; wherein the plurality of interfaces are connected to one or more segments of one or more networks of the plurality of networks; wherein each qualifier of the plurality of qualifiers includes a segment identifier uniquely identifying a segment of one network of the plurality of networks, the segment being connected to a corresponding interface of the plurality of interfaces; means for receiving, at a relay agent executing on the intermediate device that is connected to a first network of the plurality of networks, a first request for a network address from a host on the first network; means for associating a particular qualifier with the first network; wherein the particular qualifier uniquely identifies the first network; means for retrieving the particular qualifier corresponding to a particular interface connected to the host; and means for sending to a configuration server a second request for a network address for the host, the second request including the particular qualifier. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for managing leased network addresses for a plurality of networks using overlapping address spaces, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause performing:
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storing a plurality of banks of addresses corresponding to the plurality of networks, wherein each bank includes a pool of available addresses and a data structure of leased addresses, wherein at least one particular set of one or more network addresses is included in more than one bank of the plurality of banks; receiving a request for a network address for a host on a first network of the plurality of networks from a relay agent on an intermediate device connected to the first network, the request including a qualifier associated with the first network by the relay agent; based on the qualifier, selecting a first bank of addresses from the plurality of banks; identifying a first network address from the first bank of addresses based at least in part on the request; and sending to the relay agent a response for the host, the response indicating the first network address and the qualifier. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for managing leased network addresses for a plurality of networks using overlapping address spaces, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:
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storing a plurality of qualifiers corresponding to a plurality of interfaces included in an intermediate device, each qualifier uniquely identifying one network of the plurality of networks; wherein the plurality of interfaces are connected to one or more segments of one or more networks of the plurality of networks; wherein each qualifier of the plurality of qualifiers includes a segment identifier uniquely identifying a segment of one network of the plurality of networks, the segment being connected to a corresponding interface of the plurality of interfaces; receiving, at a relay agent executing on the intermediate device connected to a first network of the plurality of networks, a first request for a network address from a host on the first network; associating a particular qualifier with the first network; wherein the particular qualifier uniquely identifies the first network; retrieving the particular qualifier corresponding to a particular interface connected to the host; and sending to a configuration server a second request for a network address for the host, the second request including the particular qualifier. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for managing leased network addresses for a plurality of networks using overlapping address spaces, comprising:
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means for storing a plurality of banks of addresses corresponding to the plurality of networks, wherein each bank includes a pool of available addresses and a data structure of leased addresses, wherein at least one particular set of one or more network addresses is included in more than one bank of the plurality of banks; means for receiving a request for a network address for a host on a first network of the plurality of networks from a relay agent on an intermediate device connected to the first network, the request including a qualifier associated with the first network by the relay agent; means for selecting, based on the qualifier, a first bank of addresses from the plurality of banks; means for identifying a first network address from the first bank of addresses based at least in part on the request; and means for sending to the relay agent a response for the host, the response indicating the first network address and the qualifier. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. An apparatus for managing leased network addresses for a plurality of networks using overlapping address spaces, comprising:
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a plurality of interfaces connected to one or more segments of one or more networks of the plurality of networks; a processor; and one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of; storing a plurality of qualifiers corresponding to the plurality of interfaces, each qualifier uniquely identifying one network of the plurality of networks; wherein each qualifier of the plurality of qualifiers includes a segment identifier uniquely identifying a segment of one network of the plurality of networks, the segment being connected to a corresponding interface of the plurality of interfaces; receiving, at a relay agent, a first request for a network address from a host on the first network; associating a particular qualifier with the first network; wherein the particular qualifier uniquely identifies the first network; retrieving the particular qualifier corresponding to a particular interface connected to the host; and sending to a configuration server a second request for a network address for the host, the second request including the particular qualifier. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification