System and method for end-to-end automatic configuration of network elements using a link-level protocol
View Patent ↗A system and method for end-to-end automatic configuration of network elements using a link-level protocol. Network elements can be auto-configured through the propagation of configuration information. Configuration information is propagated using ports that have defined port roles that enable automatic propagation of configuration information.
1. A configuration method in a network element, comprising:
receiving, on a first port of said network element, first configuration information from a first peer device coupled to said first port, said first port having an assigned port role of auto-configuration upstream, wherein said assigned port role of auto-configuration upstream enables said network element to advertise a configuration to said first peer device and to accept a configuration advertised by said first peer device;
configuring said network element based on said received first configuration information; and
transmitting, on a second port of said network element, second configuration information to a second peer device coupled to said second port, said second configuration information being based on said first configuration information, said second port having an assigned port role of auto-configuration downstream, wherein said assigned port role of auto-configuration downstream enables said network element to advertise a configuration to said second peer device and to prevent a configuration advertised by said second peer device from being accepted by said network element.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first configuration information is priority based flow control configuration information or enhanced transmission selection configuration information.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting, by said network element on said first port, a time-length-value frame having a willing bit set to an affirmative value, said affirmative value indicating to said first peer device that said network element is willing to accept a configuration from said first peer device.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting, by said network element on said second port, a time-length-value frame having a willing bit set to a negative value, said negative value indicating to said second peer device that said network element is not willing to accept a configuration from said second peer device.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said assigned port role of auto-configuration downstream for said second port dictates that said second port always accepts a configuration that is advertised internally by said network element from a port that has a port role of configuration source.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising disabling said second port if a configuration received from said second peer device is not compatible.
7. A configuration method in a network element, comprising:
transmitting, on a first port of said network element, first configuration information to a peer device coupled to said first port, said first configuration information being received by said first port from a second port of said network element, said first port having an assigned port role of auto-configuration downstream, wherein said assigned port role of auto-configuration downstream enables said network element to advertise a configuration to said peer device and to prevent a configuration advertised by said peer device from being accepted by said network element;
receiving, on said first port of said network element, second configuration information from said peer device;
determining whether said received second configuration information is compatible with said first configuration information that was transmitted to said peer device; and
generating an error message for said first port of said network element if it is determined that said second configuration information is not compatible with said first configuration information.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising enabling operation of said first port if it is determined that said second configuration information is compatible with said first configuration information.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein said first configuration information is priority based flow control configuration information or enhanced transmission selection configuration information.
10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising transmitting, by said network element on said first port, a time-length-value frame having a willing bit set to a negative value, said negative value indicating to said peer device that said network element is not willing to accept a configuration from said peer device.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein said assigned port role of auto-configuration downstream for said first port dictates that said first port always accepts a configuration that is advertised internally by said network element from a port that has a port role of configuration source.
12. A configuration method in a network having a plurality of network elements, comprising:
establishing a first port in a first of said plurality of network elements as a configuration source; and
advertising a configuration from said first port to a plurality of internal ports of said first of said plurality of network elements, said plurality of internal ports including a second port having an assigned port role of auto-configuration upstream and a third port having an assigned port role of auto-configuration downstream; and
accepting, in said second and third port, said advertised configuration from said first port, wherein said assigned port role of auto-configuration upstream enables said first of said plurality of network elements to transmit said advertised configuration to a first peer device coupled to said second port and to accept a configuration advertised by said first peer device, and wherein said assigned port role of auto-configuration downstream enables said first of said plurality of network elements to transmit said advertised configuration to a second peer device coupled to said third port and to prevent a configuration advertised by said second peer device from being accepted by said first of said plurality of network elements.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said establishing comprises establishing through manual selection.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said establishing comprises establishing through an automatic selection process.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein said advertised configuration is based on priority based flow control configuration information or enhanced transmission selection configuration information.
16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising transmitting on said second port to said first peer device a time-length-value frame having a willing bit set to an affirmative value, said affirmative value indicating to said first peer device that said first of said plurality of network elements is willing to accept a configuration from said first peer device.
17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising transmitting on said third port to said second peer device a time-length-value frame having a willing bit set to a negative value, said negative value indicating to said second peer device that said first of said plurality of network elements is not willing to accept a configuration from said second peer device.