Distributed coordination of duplicate IP address detection
An access point that detects a duplicate address is described. During operation, the access point may receive a request associated with an electronic device, where the request includes an address of the electronic device (such as an IP address). In response, the access point may perform a comparison of the address to stored addresses of one or more electronic devices that are associated with the access point. When the comparison indicates that the address is in use by another electronic device in the one or more electronic devices, the access point may provide a response addressed to the electronic device that indicates that the address is in use. Otherwise, the access point may check with a remainder of a network to see if the address is in use. If the address is in use, the access point may provide the response.
1 . An access point that is part of a WiFi network, comprising:
an antenna node configured to couple to an antenna;
a network node;
one or more interface circuits configured to communicate, via the antenna node or the network node, with an electronic device, a network device in the WiFi network, or both, wherein the access point is configured to:
receive, at the antenna node, a request associated with the electronic device, wherein the request comprises an address of the electronic device;
in response to receiving the request, perform a comparison of the address to stored addresses of one or more additional electronic devices that are associated with the access point;
when the comparison indicates that the address is not in use by the one or more additional electronic devices, provide, from the network node, a second request addressed to the network device, the second request comprising the address; and
receive, at the network node, a second response associated with the network device, the second response indicating whether or not the address is in use by another electronic device that is associated with another access point in the WiFi network.
2 . The access point of claim 1 , wherein, when the second response indicates that the address is not in use by another electronic device that is associated with another access point in the WiFi network, the access point is configured to store the address and an association with the electronic device.
3 . The access point of claim 1 , wherein the address comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address.
4 . The access point of claim 1 , wherein the request and the response are compatible with a neighbor discovery (ND) protocol.
5 . The access point of claim 4 , wherein the request comprises a neighbor solicitation (NS) request.
6 . The access point of claim 1 , wherein the network device comprises a switch in the network.
7 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use in conjunction with an access point that is part of a WiFi network, the computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions that, when executed by the access point, causes the access point to perform operations, comprising:
receiving a request associated with an electronic device, wherein the request comprises an address of the electronic device;
in response to receiving the request, performing a comparison of the address to stored addresses of one or more additional electronic devices that are associated with the access point;
when the comparison indicates that the address is not in use by the one or more additional electronic devices, provide a second request addressed to a network device, the second request comprising the address; and
receive a second response associated with the network device, the second response indicating whether or not the address is in use by another electronic device that is associated with another access point in the WiFi network.
8 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the address comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address.
9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the network device comprises a network switch.
10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein, when the second response indicates that the address is not in use by another electronic device that is associated with another access point in the WiFi network, the access point is configured to store the address and an association with the electronic device.
11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the request and the response are compatible with a neighbor discovery (ND) protocol.
12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the request comprises a neighbor solicitation (NS) request.
13 . A method for detecting a duplicate address, comprising:
by an access point that is part of a WiFi network:
receiving a request associated with an electronic device, wherein the request comprises an address of the electronic device;
in response to receiving the request, performing a comparison of the address to stored addresses of one or more additional electronic devices that are associated with the access point;
when the comparison indicates that the address is not in use by the one or more additional electronic devices, providing a second request addressed to a network device, the second request comprising the address; and
receiving a second response associated with the network device, the second response indicating whether or not the address is in use by another electronic device that is associated with another access point in the WiFi network.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the network device comprises a network switch.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein, when the second response indicates that the address is not in use by another electronic device that is associated with another access point in the WiFi network, the access point is configured to store the address and an association with the electronic device.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the request and the response are compatible with a neighbor discovery (ND) protocol.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the request comprises a neighbor solicitation (NS) request.