IP Library Granted Patent US 9,641,380
Granted Patent B2
US 9,641,380 · App. 14/065,253 · Granted May 2, 2017

Spanning tree protocol (STP) implementation on an event driven virtual link aggregation (vLAG) system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,641,380
App. No.
14/065,253
Granted
May 2, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for providing virtual link aggregation (vLAG) includes forming a third logical port using a first logical port and a second logical port; determining first networking protocol state information corresponding to the third logical port using the first networking system, where the first networking protocol state information includes an indication of whether the first networking system is capable of communicating with the second networking system via an interswitch link (ISL) The method also includes storing a first networking protocol state information corresponding to the third logical port using the first networking system; communicating the first networking protocol state information to the second networking system via the and storing the first networking protocol state information using the second networking system.

Claims (28)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

forming, using a first circuitry, a first logical port using one or more of a first plurality of physical networking ports comprised in a first networking system;

forming a third logical port using the first logical port and a second logical port of a second networking system;

determining first networking protocol state information corresponding to the third logical port using the first circuitry of the first networking system, wherein the first networking protocol state information includes an indication of whether the first networking system is capable of communicating with the second networking system via an interswitch link (ISL);

storing a first networking protocol state information corresponding to the third logical port using the first circuitry of the first networking system; and

communicating the first networking protocol state information to the second networking system via the ISL;

wherein in response to a determination that the first networking system is rebooted, causing a second plurality of networking ports of the second networking system to be maintained in a disabled state.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first networking protocol state information corresponding to the third logical port is determined using spanning tree protocol (STP), wherein the first logical port comprises a link aggregation (LAG), and wherein the third logical port comprises a virtual link aggregation (vLAG), an instance of the vLAG being static.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

initiating a first procedure upon determination that the first networking system is in communication with the second networking system via the ISL; and

activating at least one of the first plurality of physical networking ports in response to the first procedure.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the initiating of the first procedure is based at least in part on a first programmable delay value.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

coupling the first networking system to a third networking system using a second ISL, wherein the third networking system includes a third plurality of physical networking ports;

coupling the second networking system to the third networking system using a third ISL;

forming a fourth logical port using one or more of the third plurality of physical networking ports; and

establishing a fifth logical port between the third networking system and each of the first networking system and the second networking system using either:

the first, second, and fourth logical ports; or

the third and fourth logical ports.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the third and fourth logical ports each comprise a virtual link aggregation (vLAG).

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring a formation state of the third logical port using the first circuitry of the first networking system;

updating the first networking protocol state information using the first circuitry of the first networking system; and

communicating the updated first networking protocol state information to the second networking system via the ISL.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring, using the first circuitry of the first networking system, a formation state of the first logical port using at least one parameter value associated with the one or more of the first plurality of physical networking ports; and

maintaining, using the first circuitry of the first networking system, the formation state of the first logical port based on at least one active physical port of the one or more of the first plurality of physical networking ports.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first networking protocol state information corresponding to the third logical port is set to one of four states: “FORMED” indicating that the first and second networking systems are up and running, “LOCAL-UP” indicating that the first networking system is up and running but not informed of a status of the second networking system or the second networking system is not up, “REMOTE-UP”indicating that the first networking system is down but the second networking system is up, and “INIT” indicating that the first and second networking systems are not up.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: LENOVO GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 069869/0614 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2019
From: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD.
To: LENOVO GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL LTD
Reel/Frame 050298/0650 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0353 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2013
From: LEI, BAO; YAO, REN J.; SAIT, TAMANNA Z.; SELVARAJ, VENKATESAN
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031493/0528 →