MAC address synchronization in a fabric switch
First Claim
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1. A switch, comprising:
- chunking circuitry configured to divide a number of media access control (MAC) addresses associated with devices coupled to an interface of the switch into a number of chunks, wherein a chunk includes a plurality of MAC addresses;
checksum circuitry configured to compute a checksum for a respective chunk of MAC addresses; and
MAC synchronization circuitry configured to;
construct a broadcast message comprising MAC address information of one or more chunks to facilitate MAC address synchronization in a network of interconnected switches, wherein the switch is a member of the network of interconnected switches;
manage the chunks and their corresponding checksums, thereby correcting an unsynchronized or race condition in the network of interconnected switches.
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating synchronization of MAC addresses in a fabric switch. During operation, the system divides a number of media access control (MAC) addresses associated with devices coupled to an interface of the switch. The system then computes a checksum for a respective chunk of MAC addresses. In addition, the system broadcasts MAC address information of the chunk to facilitate MAC address synchronization in a fabric switch of which the switch is a member, and to manage the chunks and their corresponding checksum, thereby correcting an unsynchronized or race condition in the fabric switch.
413 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A switch, comprising:
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chunking circuitry configured to divide a number of media access control (MAC) addresses associated with devices coupled to an interface of the switch into a number of chunks, wherein a chunk includes a plurality of MAC addresses; checksum circuitry configured to compute a checksum for a respective chunk of MAC addresses; and MAC synchronization circuitry configured to; construct a broadcast message comprising MAC address information of one or more chunks to facilitate MAC address synchronization in a network of interconnected switches, wherein the switch is a member of the network of interconnected switches; manage the chunks and their corresponding checksums, thereby correcting an unsynchronized or race condition in the network of interconnected switches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method, comprising:
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dividing a number of media access control (MAC) addresses associated with devices coupled to an interface of the switch, wherein a chunk includes a plurality of MAC addresses; computing a checksum for a respective chunk of MAC addresses; constructing a broadcast message comprising MAC address information of one or more chunks to facilitate MAC address synchronization in a network of interconnected switches, wherein the switch is a member of the network of interconnected switches; and managing the chunks and their corresponding checksums, thereby correcting an unsynchronized or race condition in the network of interconnected switches. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computing system for a switch, comprising:
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a processor; and a storage device storing instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising; dividing a number of media access control (MAC) addresses associated with devices coupled to an interface of the switch, wherein a chunk includes a plurality of MAC addresses; computing a checksum for a respective chunk of MAC addresses; constructing a broadcast message comprising MAC address information of one or more chunks to facilitate MAC address synchronization in a network of interconnected switches, wherein the switch is a member of the network of interconnected switches; and managing the chunks and their corresponding checksums, thereby correcting an unsynchronized or race condition in the network of interconnected switches. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification