Mechanism for enabling layer two host addresses to be shielded from the switches in a network
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, by an edge network device interposed between a network of switches and a plurality of local hosts, from a first local host of the plurality of local hosts, a first packet destined for a first destination host, wherein the first local host has a first layer 2 (L2) address and a first layer 3 (L3) address associated therewith, and wherein the first packet includes the first L2 address as a source L2 address of the first packet, and includes the first L3 address as a source L3 address of the first packet;
reducing a number of L2 addresses that need to be stored by forwarding tables of the switches, by the edge network device, by exposing fewer L2 addresses to the switches, including replacing the source L2 address of the first packet with a first substitute L2 address that is shared by a first set of the plurality of local hosts associated with a first communication channel of the edge network device; and
transmitting, by the edge network device, the first packet to the network of switches via a first edge link coupled to the first communication channel.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for shielding layer two host addresses (e.g., MAC addresses) from a network are provided. An edge network device interposed between a network of switches and multiple local hosts receives from a first local host a first packet destined for a first destination host. The first local host has a first layer 2 (L2) address and a first layer 3 (L3) address associated therewith. The first packet includes the first L2 address as a source L2 address of the first packet, and includes the first L3 address as a source L3 address of the first packet. The edge network device shields the first L2 address from the network of switches by replacing the source L2 address for the first packet with a first substitute L2 address of a first communication channel of the edge network device before sending the first packet to the network of switches.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, by an edge network device interposed between a network of switches and a plurality of local hosts, from a first local host of the plurality of local hosts, a first packet destined for a first destination host, wherein the first local host has a first layer 2 (L2) address and a first layer 3 (L3) address associated therewith, and wherein the first packet includes the first L2 address as a source L2 address of the first packet, and includes the first L3 address as a source L3 address of the first packet; reducing a number of L2 addresses that need to be stored by forwarding tables of the switches, by the edge network device, by exposing fewer L2 addresses to the switches, including replacing the source L2 address of the first packet with a first substitute L2 address that is shared by a first set of the plurality of local hosts associated with a first communication channel of the edge network device; and transmitting, by the edge network device, the first packet to the network of switches via a first edge link coupled to the first communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An edge network device configured to be interposed between a network of switches and a plurality of local hosts, the edge network device comprising:
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a plurality of communication channels; and a communication manager configured to; receive, from a first local host of a first set of local hosts of the plurality of local hosts that are coupled to a first communication channel of the plurality of communication channels, a first packet destined for a first destination host, wherein the first local host has a first layer 2 (L2) address and a first layer 3 (L3) address associated therewith, and wherein the first packet includes the first L2 address as a source L2 address of the first packet, and includes the first L3 address as a source L3 address of the first packet; shield the first L2 address from the network of switches by replacing the source L2 address of the first packet with a first substitute L2 address associated with the first communication channel and which is shared by the first set of local hosts of the plurality of local hosts; and send, via the first communication channel, the first packet to the network of switches. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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receiving, by an edge network device interposed between a network of switches and a plurality of local hosts, a first request packet from a first local host of a first set of local hosts of the plurality of local hosts, wherein the first request packet requests a layer 2 (L2) address for a first target host, wherein the first local host has a first L2 address and a first layer 3 (L3) address associated therewith, wherein the first target host has a first target L3 address associated therewith, and wherein the first request packet includes the first L2 address as a source L2 address, includes the first L3 address as a sending L3 address, includes the first target L3 address as a target L3 address, and includes an indication that the first request packet is to be broadcasted; obtaining, by the edge network device, the first L2 address and the first L3 address associated with the first local host from the first request packet; updating, by the edge network device, a data structure to include a first set of information indicating an association between the first L3 address and the first L2 address; shielding, by the edge network device, the first L2 address from the network of switches by replacing the source L2 address of the first request packet with a first substitute L2 address that is associated with a first communication channel of a plurality of communication channels of the edge network device and that is shared by the first set of local hosts of the plurality of local hosts; and sending, by the edge network device, the first request packet to the network of switches to be broadcasted throughout the network of switches. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification