Method of providing virtual router functionality
First Claim
1. A method in a network device for presenting different virtual routers to different end users within a common Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), wherein the method comprises:
- receiving an incoming packet having a VLAN field identifying the common VLAN 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 to a virtual router identifier (VRID), wherein the VRID specifies one virtual router configuration among a plurality of possible virtual router configurations;
configuring the networking device to present the one virtual router configuration specified by the VRID by selecting a routing table that characterizes the virtual router configuration specified by the VRID for use in routing the incoming packet; and
routing the incoming packet using the selected routing table that characterizes the virtual router configuration specified by the VRID, wherein the number of possible virtual routers presented to the different end users is increased by mapping multiple different key values into the same VRID through appropriate settings of index values for the networking device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of presenting different virtual routers to different end users, classes of service, or packets is provided. An incoming packet is received having a VLAN field and at least one additional field. A key is formed from the VLAN field and at least one other packet field, and mapped into a virtual router identifier (VRID) using an indirection mapping process. The VRID identifies a particular virtual router configuration from a plurality of possible virtual router configurations. A networking device is configured to have the particular virtual router configuration identified by the VRID, and the packet is then forwarded by the configured device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method in a network device for presenting different virtual routers to different end users within a common Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), wherein the method comprises:
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receiving an incoming packet having a VLAN field identifying the common VLAN 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 to a virtual router identifier (VRID), wherein the VRID specifies one virtual router configuration among a plurality of possible virtual router configurations; configuring the networking device to present the one virtual router configuration specified by the VRID by selecting a routing table that characterizes the virtual router configuration specified by the VRID for use in routing the incoming packet; and routing the incoming packet using the selected routing table that characterizes the virtual router configuration specified by the VRID, wherein the number of possible virtual routers presented to the different end users is increased by mapping multiple different key values into the same VRID through appropriate settings of index values for the networking device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A networking device having a packet processor for executing one or more commands, instructions or state transitions to present different virtual routers to different end users within a common Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), wherein executing the one or more commands, instructions or state transitions causes the networking device to further:
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receive an incoming packet having a VLAN field identifying the common VLAN and at least one additional packet field; form a key from the VLAN field and the at least one additional packet field; map the key to a virtual router identifier (VRID), wherein the VRID specifies one virtual router configuration among a plurality of possible virtual router configurations; configure the networking device to present the one virtual router configuration specified by the VRID by selecting a routing table that characterizes the virtual router configuration specified by the VRID for use in routing the incoming packet; and route the incoming packet using the selected routing table that characterizes the virtual router configuration specified by the VRID, wherein the number of possible virtual routers presented to the different end users is increased by mapping multiple different key values into the same VRID through appropriate settings of index values for the networking device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Non-transitory instructions of a networking device that, when executed by a processor, the non-transitory instructions cause the networking device to perform operations comprising:
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receiving an incoming packet having a VLAN field identifying a common VLAN 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 to a virtual router identifier (VRID), wherein the VRID specifies one virtual router configuration among a plurality of possible virtual router configurations; configuring the networking device to present the one virtual router configuration specified by the VRID by selecting a routing table that characterizes the virtual router configuration specified by the VRID for use in routing the incoming packet; and routing the incoming packet using the selected routing table that characterizes the virtual router configuration specified by the VRID, wherein the number of possible virtual routers presented to different end users is increased by mapping multiple different key values into the same VRID through appropriate settings of index values for the networking device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification