Global VLAN services
First Claim
1. A switch in a network of interconnected switches, wherein the switch comprises:
- a storage device;
forwarding domain circuitry configured to maintain a mapping that maps a first virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier and an internal virtual identifier to a first global VLAN identifier in the storage device, wherein the global VLAN identifier represents a layer-2 forwarding domain in the network of interconnected switches and is distinct from a customer VLAN or a service-provider VLAN, and wherein the internal virtual identifier is local and internal to the switch, and not included in a packet; and
forwarding circuitry configured to;
encapsulate a first packet belonging to the first VLAN in a network encapsulation header, wherein the encapsulated packet is forwardable in the network of interconnected switches based on the network encapsulation header; and
include the first global VLAN identifier in the network encapsulation header encapsulating the first packet, wherein a set of bits representing the global VLAN identifier in the network encapsulation header indicates a single value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch in a network of interconnected switches. The switch includes a forwarding domain apparatus and a forwarding apparatus. The forwarding domain apparatus maintains a mapping between a first virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier and a first global VLAN identifier in a local storage device. The global VLAN identifier represents a layer-2 forwarding domain in the network and is distinct from a customer VLAN or a service-provider VLAN. The mapping is independent of a type of the VLAN identifier. During operation, the forwarding apparatus encapsulates a first packet belonging to the first VLAN in a network encapsulation header. The encapsulated packet is forwardable in the network based on the network encapsulation header. The forwarding apparatus includes the first global VLAN identifier in the network encapsulation header of the first packet.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A switch in a network of interconnected switches, wherein the switch comprises:
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a storage device; forwarding domain circuitry configured to maintain a mapping that maps a first virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier and an internal virtual identifier to a first global VLAN identifier in the storage device, wherein the global VLAN identifier represents a layer-2 forwarding domain in the network of interconnected switches and is distinct from a customer VLAN or a service-provider VLAN, and wherein the internal virtual identifier is local and internal to the switch, and not included in a packet; and forwarding circuitry configured to; encapsulate a first packet belonging to the first VLAN in a network encapsulation header, wherein the encapsulated packet is forwardable in the network of interconnected switches based on the network encapsulation header; and include the first global VLAN identifier in the network encapsulation header encapsulating the first packet, wherein a set of bits representing the global VLAN identifier in the network encapsulation header indicates a single value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-executable method, comprising:
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maintaining a mapping that maps a first virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier and an internal virtual identifier to a first global VLAN identifier in a storage device of a switch in a network of interconnected switches, wherein the global VLAN identifier represents a layer-2 forwarding domain in the network of interconnected switches and is distinct from a customer VLAN or a service-provider VLAN, and wherein the internal virtual identifier is local and internal to the switch, and not included in a packet; encapsulating a first packet belonging to the first VLAN in a network encapsulation header, wherein the encapsulated packet is forwardable in the network of interconnected switches based on the network encapsulation header; and including the first global VLAN identifier in the network encapsulation header encapsulating the first packet, wherein a set of bits representing the global VLAN identifier in the network encapsulation header indicates a single value. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computing system, comprising:
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a processor; and a memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the system to perform a method, the method comprising; maintaining a mapping that maps a first virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier and an internal virtual identifier to a first global VLAN identifier in a storage device of a switch in a network of interconnected switches, wherein the global VLAN identifier represents a layer-2 forwarding domain in the network of interconnected switches and is distinct from a customer VLAN or a service-provider VLAN, and wherein the internal virtual identifier is local and internal to the switch, and not included in a packet; encapsulating a first packet belonging to the first VLAN in a network encapsulation header, wherein the encapsulated packet is forwardable in the network of interconnected switches based on the encapsulation header; and including the first global VLAN identifier in the network encapsulation header encapsulating the first packet, wherein a set of bits representing the global VLAN identifier in the network encapsulation header indicates a single value.
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Specification