Method and apparatus for determining a subnet mask based on presence or absence of responses to plural communication packets issued during a search iteration
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method executing on a hardware network node for automatically determining a subnet mask, the hardware network node attached to a subnet in a packet communication network, the method comprising the steps of:
- during one search iteration for a possible subnet mask, issuing plural communication packets to at least one address known to be used in the subnet to evoke responses, each issued communication packet having a different one of possible plural source addresses; and
based on presence or absence of responses to the plural communication packets, determining whether the possible subnet mask is the subnet mask that represents the subnet.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a subnet mask is automatically determined by a first network node attached to a subnet in a packet communication network. The first network node issues plural communication packets from plural source addresses to at least one address known to be used in the subnet to evoke responses, and based on the presence or absence of responses from the network nodes at the known addresses, the first network node determines the subnet mask which represents the subnet.
6 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A method executing on a hardware network node for automatically determining a subnet mask, the hardware network node attached to a subnet in a packet communication network, the method comprising the steps of:
-
during one search iteration for a possible subnet mask, issuing plural communication packets to at least one address known to be used in the subnet to evoke responses, each issued communication packet having a different one of possible plural source addresses; and based on presence or absence of responses to the plural communication packets, determining whether the possible subnet mask is the subnet mask that represents the subnet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A network node attached to a subnet capable of automatically determining a subnet mask in a packet communication network, comprising:
-
an interface coupled to a subnet including at least one other network node; and a processor operating a processor routine, the processor being coupled to the interface to; during one search iteration for a possible subnet mask, issuing plural communication packets to at least one address known to be used in the subnet to evoke responses, each issued communication packet having a different one of possible plural source addresses; and based on presence or absence of responses to the plural communication packets, determining whether the possible subnet mask is the subnet mask that represents the subnet. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An apparatus in a network node coupled to a network having one or more network nodes, the apparatus comprising:
-
a storage means that stores a processor routine for determining a network configuration; and a processor loading the processor routine; the processor being commanded by the processor routine to; during one search iteration for a possible subnet mask, issue plural communication packets to at least one address known to be used in the subnet to evoke responses, each issued communication packet having a different one of possible plural source addresses; and based on presence or absence of responses to the plural communication packets, determine whether the possible subnet mask is the subnet mask that represents the subnet. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A hardware processing device attached to a subnet in a packet communication network for determining a subnet mask, the processing device comprising:
-
means for providing possible subnet masks; means for, during one search iteration for a possible subnet mask, issuing plural communication packets to at least one address known to be used in the subnet to evoke responses, each issued communication packet having a different one of possible plural source addresses; means for collecting responses to the plural communication packets issued to the at least one address; and means for determining whether the possible subnet mask is the subnet mask that represents the subnet, based on the collected responses. - View Dependent Claims (23)
-
Specification