Virtual network device
First Claim
1. A virtual switch, the virtual switch comprising:
- a master distribution switch chassis comprising;
a first plurality of linecards;
a master supervisor card for controlling the first plurality of linecards;
a first master distribution switch port configured for communication with a slave distribution switch chassis over a virtual switch link, wherein the master distribution switch chassis and the slave distribution switch chassis communicate one or more media access control (MAC) notification frames according to a virtual switch link protocol over the virtual switch link;
a second master distribution switch port configured to communicate with a first satellite switch; and
a third master distribution switch port configured to communicate with core switches; and
a slave distribution switch chassis, coupled to the master distribution switch chassis by the virtual switch link and under the control of the master supervisor card, the slave distribution switch chassis comprising;
a second plurality of linecards;
a slave supervisor card;
a first slave distribution switch port configured for communication with the master distribution switch chassis over the virtual switch link;
a second slave distribution switch port configured to communicate with a second satellite switch; and
a third slave distribution switch port configured to communicate with the core switches.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method and devices are provided to form virtual switches for data networks. As noted above, the term “switch” as used herein will apply to switches, routers and similar network devices. Each virtual switch acts as a single logical unit, while encompassing at least two physical chassis. Accordingly, each virtual switch may be treated as a single point of management. Each virtual switch includes a master chassis and at least one slave chassis. The master chassis is configured to control the slave chassis. The master chassis includes at least one master supervisor card and the slave chassis includes at least one slave supervisor card. The master chassis and the slave chassis communicate via a virtual switch link according to a virtual switch link protocol.
157 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A virtual switch, the virtual switch comprising:
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a master distribution switch chassis comprising; a first plurality of linecards; a master supervisor card for controlling the first plurality of linecards; a first master distribution switch port configured for communication with a slave distribution switch chassis over a virtual switch link, wherein the master distribution switch chassis and the slave distribution switch chassis communicate one or more media access control (MAC) notification frames according to a virtual switch link protocol over the virtual switch link; a second master distribution switch port configured to communicate with a first satellite switch; and a third master distribution switch port configured to communicate with core switches; and a slave distribution switch chassis, coupled to the master distribution switch chassis by the virtual switch link and under the control of the master supervisor card, the slave distribution switch chassis comprising; a second plurality of linecards; a slave supervisor card; a first slave distribution switch port configured for communication with the master distribution switch chassis over the virtual switch link; a second slave distribution switch port configured to communicate with a second satellite switch; and a third slave distribution switch port configured to communicate with the core switches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of forming a virtual switch from a plurality of physical switches in a network, the method comprising:
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configuring a first physical switch as a master switch for controlling the virtual switch; configuring a second physical switch as a slave switch under the control of the master switch, wherein the first physical switch and the second physical switch are redundant backups acting as distribution switches in a network; forming a virtual switch link for communication between the master switch and the slave switch; causing the master switch and the slave switch to communicate via a virtual switch link protocol; communicating a media access control (MAC) notification frame between the master switch and the slave switch via the virtual switch link according to the virtual switch link protocol; and causing the master switch and the slave switch to act as a single virtual switch when interacting with an access layer satellite switch coupled to both the master switch and the slave switch, wherein the virtual switch is configured to include a destination port. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for forming a virtual switch from a plurality of physical switches in a distribution layer or a core layer of a network, the apparatus comprising:
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means for configuring a first physical switch as a master switch for controlling the virtual switch; means for configuring a second physical switch as a slave switch under the control of the master switch, wherein the first physical switch and the second physical switch are redundant backups acting as distribution switches in the network; means for forming a virtual switch link for communication between the master switch and the slave switch; means for causing the master switch and the slave switch to communicate one or more media access control (MAC) notification frames according to a virtual switch link protocol over the virtual switch link; and means for causing the master switch and the slave switch to act as a single virtual switch when interacting with an access layer satellite switch.
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27. A computer program embodied in a machine-readable medium, the computer program containing instructions for controlling a plurality of physical switches of a network to perform the following steps:
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configuring a first physical switch as a master switch for controlling a virtual switch; configuring a second physical switch as a slave switch under the control of the master switch, wherein the first physical switch and the second physical switch are redundant backups acting as distribution switches in the network; forming a virtual switch link for communication between the master switch and the slave switch; causing the master switch and the slave switch to communicate via a virtual switch link protocol; communicating a media access control (MAC) notification frame between the master switch and the slave switch via the virtual switch link according to the virtual switch link protocol; and causing the master switch and the slave switch to act as a single virtual switch when interacting with an access layer satellite switch.
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Specification