Distributed virtual bridge management
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of racks, wherein each rack of the plurality of racks includes a plurality of chassis, wherein each chassis of the plurality of chassis includes a plurality of server computers;
a distributed virtual bridge coupled to the plurality of server computers, wherein the distributed virtual bridge is coupled to a plurality of adapters and the plurality of adapters is located within, coupled, or any combination thereof to the plurality of server computers, and wherein the distributed virtual bridge comprises;
a plurality of bridge elements coupled to the plurality of server computers, wherein each bridge element of the plurality of bridge elements is configured to forward data frames between the plurality of server computers of different racks of the Plurality of racks, different chassis of the plurality of chassis, or any combination thereof, and wherein each bridge element of the plurality of bridge elements includes a forwarding cache to store address data used to forward the data frames received by the bridge element; and
a plurality of controlling bridges coupled to one another and coupled to the plurality of bridge elements, wherein each controlling bridge of the controlling bridges is configured to generate and send management frames to the plurality of bridge elements, wherein the management frames include instructions used to program the plurality of bridge elements, and wherein each controlling bridge of the plurality of controlling bridges includes a global forwarding table to store address data received from the plurality of bridge elements, provide address data to the plurality of bridge elements, or any combination thereof accordingly.
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Abstract
Systems and methods to forward data frames are described. A particular method may include receiving a data frame at a switch of a plurality of networked switches coupled to a plurality of server computers. The data frame may be forwarded from a controlling bridge coupled to the plurality of networked switches. The data frame may be determined to include management data, and an operating parameter of the switch may be modified.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of racks, wherein each rack of the plurality of racks includes a plurality of chassis, wherein each chassis of the plurality of chassis includes a plurality of server computers; a distributed virtual bridge coupled to the plurality of server computers, wherein the distributed virtual bridge is coupled to a plurality of adapters and the plurality of adapters is located within, coupled, or any combination thereof to the plurality of server computers, and wherein the distributed virtual bridge comprises; a plurality of bridge elements coupled to the plurality of server computers, wherein each bridge element of the plurality of bridge elements is configured to forward data frames between the plurality of server computers of different racks of the Plurality of racks, different chassis of the plurality of chassis, or any combination thereof, and wherein each bridge element of the plurality of bridge elements includes a forwarding cache to store address data used to forward the data frames received by the bridge element; and a plurality of controlling bridges coupled to one another and coupled to the plurality of bridge elements, wherein each controlling bridge of the controlling bridges is configured to generate and send management frames to the plurality of bridge elements, wherein the management frames include instructions used to program the plurality of bridge elements, and wherein each controlling bridge of the plurality of controlling bridges includes a global forwarding table to store address data received from the plurality of bridge elements, provide address data to the plurality of bridge elements, or any combination thereof accordingly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of programming a bridge element, the method comprising:
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for a plurality of racks, wherein each rack of the plurality of racks includes a plurality of chassis, wherein each chassis of the plurality of chassis includes a plurality of server computers, receiving a data frame at a switch bridge element of a plurality of bridge elements of a distributed virtual bridge, wherein the data frame is forwarded from a controlling bridge of a plurality of controlling bridges of the distributed virtual bridge, wherein the distributed virtual bridge is coupled to the plurality of server computers, wherein the distributed virtual bridge is coupled to a plurality of adapters and the plurality of adapters is located within, coupled, or any combination thereof to the plurality of server computers and wherein the distributed virtual bridge comprises; the plurality of bridge elements coupled to the plurality of server computers, wherein each bridge element of the plurality of bridge elements is configured to forward data frames between the plurality of server computers of different racks of the plurality of racks, different chassis of the plurality of chassis, or any combination thereof, and wherein each of the plurality of bridge elements include a forwarding cache to store address data used to forward the data frames received by the bridge element, and the plurality of controlling bridges coupled to one another and coupled to the plurality of bridge elements, wherein each controlling bridge of the plurality of controlling bridges is configured to generate and send management frames to the plurality of bridge elements, wherein the management frames include instructions used to program the plurality of bridge elements, and wherein each controlling bridge of the plurality of controlling bridges includes a global forwarding table to store address data received from the plurality of bridge elements, provide address data to the plurality of bridge elements, or any combination thereof accordingly; determining that the data frame includes management data; and modifying an operating parameter of the bridge element based upon the management data. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of programming a bridge element, the method comprising:
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for a plurality of racks, wherein each rack of the plurality of racks includes a plurality of chassis, wherein each chassis of the plurality of chassis includes a plurality of server computers, generating a management frame at a controlling bridge of a plurality of controlling bridges of a distributed virtual bridge, wherein the management frame is configured to modify an operating parameter of a bridge element of a plurality of bridge elements of a distributed bridge coupled to the controlling bridge and includes a protocol identifying the management frame to the bridge element, wherein the distributed virtual bridge is coupled to the plurality of server computers, wherein the distributed virtual bridge is coupled to a plurality of adapters and the plurality of adapters is located within, coupled, or any combination thereof to the plurality of server computers, and wherein the distributed virtual bridge comprises; the plurality of bridge elements coupled to the plurality of server computers, wherein each bridge element plurality of bridge elements is configured to forward data frames between the plurality of server computers of different racks of the plurality of racks, different chassis of the plurality of chassis, or any combination thereof, and wherein each of the plurality of bridge elements include a forwarding cache to store address data used to forward the data frames received by the bridge element, and the plurality of controlling bridges coupled to one another and coupled to the plurality of bridge elements, wherein each controlling bridge of the plurality of controlling bridges is configured to generate and send management frames to the plurality of bridge elements, wherein the management frames include instructions used to program the plurality of bridge elements, and wherein each controlling bridge of the plurality of controlling bridges includes a global forwarding table to store address data received from the plurality of bridge elements, provide address data to the plurality of bridge elements, or any combination thereof accordingly; and forwarding the management frame to the bridge element. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A program product, comprising:
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program code resident at a bridge element of a plurality of bridge elements of a distributed virtual bridge and configured to, for a plurality of racks, wherein each rack of the plurality of racks includes a plurality of chassis, wherein each chassis of the plurality of chassis includes a plurality of server computers, determine that a data frame includes management data and to modify an operating parameter of the bridge element, wherein the distributed virtual bridge is coupled to the plurality of server computers, wherein the distributed virtual bridge is coupled to a plurality of adapters and the plurality of adapters is located within, coupled, or any combination thereof to the plurality of server computers, and wherein the distributed virtual bridge comprises; the plurality of bridge elements coupled to the plurality of server computers, wherein each bridge element of the plurality of bridge elements is configured to forward data frames between the plurality of server computers of different racks of the plurality of racks, different chassis of the plurality of chassis, or any combination thereof, and wherein each of the plurality of bridge elements include a forwarding cache to store address data used to forward the data frames received by the bridge element, and a plurality of controlling bridges coupled to one another and coupled to the plurality of bridge elements, wherein each controlling bridge of the plurality of controlling bridges is configured to generate and send management frames to the plurality of bridge elements, wherein the management frames include instructions used to program the plurality of bridge elements, and wherein each controlling bridge of the plurality of controlling bridges includes a global forwarding table to store address data received from the plurality of bridge elements, provide address data to the plurality of bridge elements, or any combination thereof accordingly; and a computer readable non-transitory medium bearing the program code. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification