Hardware abstraction layer
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method comprising:
- at an interface manager in a data plane of a network switch, receiving a request for a binding between a virtual interface and one or more logical interfaces of the network switch, the data plane coupled to a control plane of the network switch;
receiving a definition for the binding at the interface manager in the data plane;
maintaining the binding and the definition for the binding, in a single database in the data plane of the network switch, wherein when a particular one of the one or more logical interfaces goes down, a corresponding virtual interface specified by the binding is brought down; and
updating forwarding databases for chips of network processors and a forwarding information base for an IP stack coupled to the network switch.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Switching and routing functions may be provided in a data plane of a network switch by having all functions and algorithms needed to handle all related interface, logical and physical, under one interface manager to keep track of bindings between virtual interfaces and logical interfaces, as well as maintain the statuses of ports that belong to the virtual interface and the actual logical ports. When the actual interface goes down, the virtual interface may go down along with it. The bindings may also include definitions. All of these bindings may be located in a single routing information base (RIB) database, eliminating the need for multiple bindings to be kept in various places. Furthermore, a hardware abstraction layer in the control plane can also then be mirrored in the data plane, eliminating the need for the customer to create a layer performing the same tasks.
10 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method comprising:
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at an interface manager in a data plane of a network switch, receiving a request for a binding between a virtual interface and one or more logical interfaces of the network switch, the data plane coupled to a control plane of the network switch; receiving a definition for the binding at the interface manager in the data plane; maintaining the binding and the definition for the binding, in a single database in the data plane of the network switch, wherein when a particular one of the one or more logical interfaces goes down, a corresponding virtual interface specified by the binding is brought down; and updating forwarding databases for chips of network processors and a forwarding information base for an IP stack coupled to the network switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A network switch comprising:
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a control plane; and a data plane coupled to the control plane and containing an interface manager, wherein the interface manager is configured to; receive a request for a binding between a virtual interface and one or more logical interfaces of the network switch; receive a definition for the binding; and maintain the binding and the definition for the binding in a single database in the data plane of the network switch, wherein when a particular one of the one or more logical interfaces goes down, a corresponding virtual interface specified by the binding is brought down; and update forwarding databases for chips of network processors and a forwarding information base for an IP stack coupled to the network switch. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving a request in a data plane for a binding between a virtual interface and one or more logical interfaces of a network switch; means for receiving a definition for the binding in the data plane; and means for maintaining the binding and the definition for the binding in a single database in the data plane of the network switch, wherein when a particular one of the one or more logical interfaces goes down, a corresponding virtual interface specified by the binding is brought down; and means for updating forwarding databases for chips of network processors and a forwarding information base for an IP stack coupled to the network switch. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method, the method comprising:
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at an interface manager in a data plane of a network switch, receiving a request for a binding between a virtual interface and one or more logical interfaces of the network switch, the data plane coupled to a control plane of the network switch; receiving a definition for the binding at the interface manager in the data plane; and maintaining the binding and the definition for the binding in a single database in the data plane of the network switch, wherein when a particular one of the one or more logical interfaces goes down, a corresponding virtual interface specified by the binding is brought down; and updating forwarding databases for chips of network processors and a forwarding information base for an IP stack coupled to the network switch.
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Specification