MAC address detection device for virtual routers
First Claim
1. In a networking device capable of presenting different virtual routers to different end users, classes of service, or packets, a MAC address detector comprising:
- memory holding a first table having N entries, each entry holding a MAC address prefix;
memory holding a second table having N entries, each entry holding a MAC address suffix and an index to an entry in the first table holding a corresponding MAC address prefix;
combining logic for combining each prefix from the first table with a corresponding suffix from the second table to form a pool of N potential MAC addresses, wherein N is an integer of one or more;
addressing logic for generating an (N+1)th potential MAC address of the networking device by combining a permanent or semi-permanent, unique identifier of the networking device with a virtual router identifier determined responsive to a packet received at the networking device, the (N+1)th potential MAC address in combination with the N potential MAC addresses forming a plurality of potential MAC addresses that are available for activation and assignment to the networking device;
enable logic for activating and assigning, one or more of the plurality of potential MAC addresses the networking device responsive to the packet received at the networking device;
comparison logic for indicating whether any of the one or more potential MAC addresses assigned to the networking device match a destination MAC address derived from the packet received; and
detection logic for asserting a device address detection signal if any of the one or more potential MAC addresses assigned to the networking device match the destination MAC address derived from the packet received.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A MAC address detector for a networking device is provided, the device configured to present different virtual routers to different end users, classes of service or packets. First addressing logic provides a pool of N potential MAC addresses of the device, wherein N is an integer of one or more. Second addressing logic generates a (N+1)th potential MAC address of the device by combining a permanent or semi-permanent identifier of the device, for example, a chassis identifier, with a virtual router identifier determined responsive to the packet. Comparison logic indicates which if any of the (N+1) potential MAC addresses match the destination MAC address from the packet. Enable logic selectively activates responsive to the packet any of the (N+1) potential MAC addresses. Detection logic asserts a device address detection signal if any activated ones of the (N+1) potential MAC addresses match the destination address from the packet.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. In a networking device capable of presenting different virtual routers to different end users, classes of service, or packets, a MAC address detector comprising:
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memory holding a first table having N entries, each entry holding a MAC address prefix; memory holding a second table having N entries, each entry holding a MAC address suffix and an index to an entry in the first table holding a corresponding MAC address prefix; combining logic for combining each prefix from the first table with a corresponding suffix from the second table to form a pool of N potential MAC addresses, wherein N is an integer of one or more; addressing logic for generating an (N+1)th potential MAC address of the networking device by combining a permanent or semi-permanent, unique identifier of the networking device with a virtual router identifier determined responsive to a packet received at the networking device, the (N+1)th potential MAC address in combination with the N potential MAC addresses forming a plurality of potential MAC addresses that are available for activation and assignment to the networking device; enable logic for activating and assigning, one or more of the plurality of potential MAC addresses the networking device responsive to the packet received at the networking device; comparison logic for indicating whether any of the one or more potential MAC addresses assigned to the networking device match a destination MAC address derived from the packet received; and detection logic for asserting a device address detection signal if any of the one or more potential MAC addresses assigned to the networking device match the destination MAC address derived from the packet received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a networking device capable of presenting different virtual routers to different end users, classes of service, or packets, a MAC address detector comprising:
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a first table having N entries, wherein N is an integer greater than one, each entry holding a MAC address prefix; a second table having N entries, each entry holding a MAC address suffix and an index to an entry in the first table holding a corresponding MAC address prefix; combining logic for combining each suffix from the second table with a corresponding prefix from the first table to form a pool of N potential MAC addresses of the networking device; addressing logic for generating an (N+1)th potential MAC address of the networking device by combining a permanent or semi-permanent, unique identifier of the networking device with a virtual router identifier determined responsive to a packet received at the networking device, the (N+1)th potential MAC address in combination with the N potential MAC addresses forming a plurality of potential MAC addresses that are available for activation and assignment to the networking device; enable logic for selectively activating and assigning one or more of the plurality of potential MAC addresses to the networking device responsive to the packet received at the networking device; comparison logic for indicating whether any activated ones of the one or more potential MAC addresses match a destination MAC address derived from the packet received; and detection logic for asserting a device address detection signal if any activated ones of the plurality of potential MAC addresses match the destination MAC address derived from the packet received. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. In a networking device capable of presenting different virtual routers to different end users, classes of service, or packets, a method of routing a packet comprising:
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receiving a packet at the networking device; storing in a memory of the networking device, a first table having N entries, wherein each entry comprises a MAC address prefix; storing in the memory of the networking device, a second table having N entries, each entry comprising a MAC address suffix and an index to an entry in the first table holding a corresponding MAC address prefix; combining each prefix from the first table with a corresponding suffix from the second table to form a pool of N potential MAC addresses of the networking device, wherein N is an integer of one or more; generating an (N+1)th potential MAC address of the networking device by combining a permanent or semi-permanent, unique identifier of the networking device with a virtual router identifier determined responsive to receiving the packet at the networking device, the (N+1)th potential MAC address in combination with the N potential MAC addresses forming a plurality of potential MAC addresses of the networking device that are available for activation and therefore assignment to the networking device; activating and assigning one or more of the plurality of potential MAC addresses to the networking device responsive to receiving the packet at the networking device; indicating whether any of the one or more potential MAC addresses assigned to the networking device match a destination MAC address derived from the packet received; and asserting a device address detection signal if there is a match between any of the one or more potential MAC addresses assigned to the networking device and the destination MAC address derived from the packet received. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 17)
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15. In a networking device capable of presenting different virtual routers to different end users, classes of service, or packets, a MAC address detector comprising:
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means for storing a first table having N entries, wherein each entry comprises a MAC address prefix; means for storing a second table having N entries, each entry comprising a MAC address suffix and an index to an entry in the first table holding a corresponding MAC address prefix; means for combining each prefix from the first table with a corresponding suffix from the second table to form a pool of N potential MAC addresses of the networking device, wherein N is an integer of one or more; second addressing means for generating an (N+1)th potential MAC address of the networking device by combining a permanent or semi-permanent, unique identifier of the networking device with a virtual router identifier determined responsive to a packet received at the networking device, the (N+1)th potential MAC address in combination with the N potential MAC addresses forming a plurality of potential MAC addresses that are available for activation and assignment to the networking device; enable means for activating and assigning one or more of the plurality of potential MAC addresses to the networking device responsive to the packet received at the networking device; comparison logic for indicating whether any of the one or more potential MAC addresses assigned to the networking device match a destination MAC address derived from the packet received; and detection means for asserting a device address detection signal, to indicate the packet should be routed at OSI layer three rather than switched at OSI layer two, if there is a match between any of the one or more potential MAC addresses assigned to the networking device and the destination MAC address derived from the packet received. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification