Method of providing virtual router functionality through abstracted virtual identifiers
First Claim
1. A method, performed in, by or for a networking device having a router core, of performing one or more core virtual router functions for a packet responsive to one or more abstracted virtual identifiers abstracted from one or more virtual identifiers derived from the packet, thus insulating the router core from changes in the one or more virtual identifiers, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a packet having VLAN, VMAN, and ingress port fields;
forming a key from the VLAN, VMAN and ingress port fields;
masking the key with a key type determined responsive to the ingress port field;
mapping the masked key into an abstracted VLAN identifier (AVID) and abstracted virtual port identifier (AVPT) using a two-step indirection mapping process, comprising a first step and a second step,wherein the first step comprises accessing a table having a plurality of entries, each having a content value and an index value, and locating an entry having a content value that matches the masked key, and the second step comprises mapping the index value of the matching entry into the AVID and AVPT by using the index value to identify an entry in an associated data store element containing or including the AVID and AVPT;
performing one or more core virtual router functions responsive to the AVID, the one or more core virtual router functions selected from the group consisting of;
qualifying OSI layer two MAC addresses;
limiting OSI layer two broadcasting or flooding domains;
performing OSI layer three indirection;
performing router MAC address detection; and
generating a CAM key in support of a packet processor operation; and
looking up a spanning tree state responsive to the AVPT.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of providing virtual router functionality to a packet responsive to one or more abstracted virtual packet identifiers is provided. The method occurs in a networking device having a router core. The one or more abstracted virtual identifiers are abstracted from one or more virtual identifiers derived from the packet, thus insulating the router core from changes in the one or more virtual identifiers. A packet is received having a VLAN field, and a key is formed from the VLAN field and at least one other packet field. The key is mapped into an abstracted virtual identifier using an indirection mapping process. One or more core virtual router functions are then performed responsive to the abstracted virtual identifier.
78 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method, performed in, by or for a networking device having a router core, of performing one or more core virtual router functions for a packet responsive to one or more abstracted virtual identifiers abstracted from one or more virtual identifiers derived from the packet, thus insulating the router core from changes in the one or more virtual identifiers, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a packet having VLAN, VMAN, and ingress port fields; forming a key from the VLAN, VMAN and ingress port fields; masking the key with a key type determined responsive to the ingress port field; mapping the masked key into an abstracted VLAN identifier (AVID) and abstracted virtual port identifier (AVPT) using a two-step indirection mapping process, comprising a first step and a second step, wherein the first step comprises accessing a table having a plurality of entries, each having a content value and an index value, and locating an entry having a content value that matches the masked key, and the second step comprises mapping the index value of the matching entry into the AVID and AVPT by using the index value to identify an entry in an associated data store element containing or including the AVID and AVPT; performing one or more core virtual router functions responsive to the AVID, the one or more core virtual router functions selected from the group consisting of;
qualifying OSI layer two MAC addresses;limiting OSI layer two broadcasting or flooding domains; performing OSI layer three indirection; performing router MAC address detection; and generating a CAM key in support of a packet processor operation; and looking up a spanning tree state responsive to the AVPT.
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2. A system, in or associated with a networking device, for determining, using a two-step indirection mapping process comprising a first step and a second step, an abstracted VLAN identifier (AVID) and an abstracted virtual port identifier (AVPT), for use in performing one or more core virtual router functions for a packet having a VLAN field, comprising:
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first logic for forming a key from the VLAN field and at least one additional packet field; first means for performing the first step of the two-step indirection mapping process by accessing a table having a plurality of entries, each having a content value and an index value, and locating an entry having a content value that matches the key; and second means for performing the second step of the two-step indirection mapping process by mapping the index value of the matching entry into the AVID and the AVPT by using the index value to identify an entry in an associated data store element containing or including the AVID and AVPT; and performing one or more core virtual router functions responsive to the AVID. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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4. A method in a router core of a networking device comprising:
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receiving a packet having a VLAN field and at least one additional packet field; forming a key from the VLAN field and the at least one additional packet field; mapping the key into an abstracted VLAN identifier (AVID) and abstracted virtual port identifier (AVPT) using a two-step indirection mapping process having a first operation and a second operation; wherein the first operation comprises accessing a table having a plurality of entries, each entry having a content value and an index value, and locating an entry having a content value that matches the key, and wherein the second operation comprises mapping a corresponding index value of the located entry having the content value that matches the key into the AVID and AVPT by using the index value to identify an entry in an associated data store element containing or including the AVID and AVPT; and performing one or more core virtual router functions responsive to the AVID. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A networking device comprising:
- a processor coupled with a router core of the networking device;
wherein the processor executes a set of instructions embedded on a memory causing the router core to perform a method comprising;receiving a packet having a VLAN field and at least one additional packet field; forming a key from the VLAN field and the at least one additional packet field; mapping the key into an abstracted VLAN identifier (AVID) and abstracted virtual port identifier (AVPT) using a two-step indirection mapping process having a first operation and a second operation; wherein the first operation comprises accessing a table having a plurality of entries, each entry having a content value and an index value, and locating an entry having a content value that matches the key, and wherein the second operation comprises mapping a corresponding index value of the located entry having the content value that matches the key into the AVID and AVPT by using the index value to identify an entry in an associated data store element containing or including the AVID and AVPT; and performing one or more core virtual router functions responsive to the AVID. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
- a processor coupled with a router core of the networking device;
Specification