System and method for a virtual chassis system
First Claim
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1. A network node in a virtual chassis system, comprising:
- a plurality of virtual fabric links (VFLs) operably coupled between the network node and a plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system;
a control management module operable to generate a topology database that includes a chassis identification and local address of a master network node in the virtual chassis system and chassis identifications and local addresses of the plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system, the control management module operable to;
adopt the local address of the master network node in the virtual chassis system as a virtual chassis address of the network node for addressing of the virtual chassis system by external nodes; and
at least a first network interface module operable to;
store one or more address tables that include destination addresses associated with hardware device information of the plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system;
receive an incoming packet on an external port interface, wherein the incoming packet includes a first destination address;
determine from the one or more address tables destination hardware device information of one of the plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system associated with the first destination address, that includes access a first forwarding table having a list of destination address entries and associated hardware device information of the one of the plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system associated with the first destination address, wherein the associated hardware device information of the one of the plurality of other network nodes includes a chassis identification of the one of the plurality of other network nodes;
access a second address table that includes a list of chassis identifications and associated VFL identifiers, wherein the associated VFL identifiers identify at least one VFL for forwarding a packet to one of the plurality of other network nodes identified by the chassis identification;
generate a packet with pre-pended header from the incoming packet, wherein the pre-pended header includes the destination hardware device information of the one of the plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system; and
transmit the packet with pre-pended header over one of the plurality of virtual fabric links to the one of the plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system.
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Abstract
A virtual chassis system includes a plurality of network nodes configured with a master virtual chassis address. The network nodes are connected by virtual fabric link (VFLs) that provide a connection for exchange of packets between the network nodes. The packets include source MAC addresses and associated hardware device information, such as source chassis ID, source network interface identifier and source port identifier information. The network nodes use this information to maintain synchronized MAC address tables for forwarding of packets in the virtual chassis system.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A network node in a virtual chassis system, comprising:
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a plurality of virtual fabric links (VFLs) operably coupled between the network node and a plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system; a control management module operable to generate a topology database that includes a chassis identification and local address of a master network node in the virtual chassis system and chassis identifications and local addresses of the plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system, the control management module operable to; adopt the local address of the master network node in the virtual chassis system as a virtual chassis address of the network node for addressing of the virtual chassis system by external nodes; and at least a first network interface module operable to; store one or more address tables that include destination addresses associated with hardware device information of the plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system; receive an incoming packet on an external port interface, wherein the incoming packet includes a first destination address; determine from the one or more address tables destination hardware device information of one of the plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system associated with the first destination address, that includes access a first forwarding table having a list of destination address entries and associated hardware device information of the one of the plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system associated with the first destination address, wherein the associated hardware device information of the one of the plurality of other network nodes includes a chassis identification of the one of the plurality of other network nodes; access a second address table that includes a list of chassis identifications and associated VFL identifiers, wherein the associated VFL identifiers identify at least one VFL for forwarding a packet to one of the plurality of other network nodes identified by the chassis identification; generate a packet with pre-pended header from the incoming packet, wherein the pre-pended header includes the destination hardware device information of the one of the plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system; and transmit the packet with pre-pended header over one of the plurality of virtual fabric links to the one of the plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A network node in virtual chassis system, comprising:
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a plurality of virtual fabric links (VFLs) operably coupled between the network node and a plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system; a control management module operable to generate a topology database, wherein the topology database includes a chassis identification and local address of a master network node in the virtual chassis system and chassis identifications and local addresses of the plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system, the control management module operable to; adopt the local address of the master network node in the virtual chassis system as a virtual chassis address of the network node for addressing of the virtual chassis system by external nodes when the network node is operating in a virtual chassis mode; and at least a first network interface module operable to; receive a packet with a destination address from an external node; access one or more forwarding tables to determine hardware device information of one of the plurality of other network nodes associated with the destination address, wherein the hardware device information includes a VFL identifier of at least one VFL coupled to the network node and the one of the plurality of other network nodes associated with the destination address; and transmitting the packet over the at least one VFL coupled to the network node and the one of the plurality of other network nodes associated with the first destination address. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for a network node in a virtual chassis system, wherein a plurality of virtual fabric links (VFLs) are operably coupled between the network node and a plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system comprising:
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generating a topology database that includes a chassis identification and local address of a master network node in the virtual chassis system and chassis identifications and local addresses of the plurality of the other network nodes in the virtual chassis system; adopting the local address of the master network node as a virtual chassis address of the network node for addressing of the virtual chassis system be external nodes when the network node is operating in a virtual chassis mode; storing one or more address tables that include destination addresses associated with hardware device information of a plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system; receiving an incoming packet on an external port interface, wherein the packet includes a first destination address; determining from the one or more address tables destination hardware device information of one of the plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system associated with the first destination address; generating a packet with pre-pended header from the incoming packet, wherein the pre-pended header includes the destination hardware device information of the one of the plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system; and transmit the packet with pre-pended header over one of the plurality of virtual fabric links to the one of the plurality of other network nodes in the virtual chassis system. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification