Name services for virtual cluster switching
One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch that facilitates name services in a virtual cluster switch. The switch includes a name service database indicating at least one media access control (MAC) address learned at a second switch. The switch also includes a control mechanism. During operation, the control mechanism distributes information on a locally learned MAC address to the second switch. In addition, the control mechanism receives information on a MAC address learned at the second switch.
1. A switch, comprising:
a storage device;
management circuitry configured to:
identify a media access control (MAC) address and a logical identifier from a payload of a notification message, wherein the logical identifier identifies a switch group comprising a plurality of switches, wherein the notification message includes an encapsulation header forwardable in a routed network;
store the MAC address in association with the logical identifier in a data structure in the storage device; and
construct an update message for a remote switch, wherein the update message comprises a MAC address learned from a local port and a switch identifier of the switch.
2. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the management circuitry is further configured to identify a port identifier from the notification message, wherein the port identifier identifies a port from which a remote switch has learned the MAC address.
3. The switch of claim 2 , further comprising forwarding circuitry configured to, in response to identifying the MAC address as a destination address of a packet, determine a local port associated with the remote switch as an egress port for the packet.
4. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the management circuitry is further configured to:
identify a second identifier associated with the MAC address from a second notification message; and
update the data structure in the storage device by storing MAC address in association with the second identifier.
5. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the management circuitry is further configured to identify a virtual local area network (VLAN) tag associated with the MAC address from the notification message.
6. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the MAC address is a multicast address associated with a multicast group.
7. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the MAC address is assigned to an end device multi-homed with the switch group.
8. A method, comprising:
identifying a media access control (MAC) address and a logical identifier from a payload of a notification message, wherein the logical identifier identifies a switch group comprising a plurality of switches, wherein the notification message includes an encapsulation header forwardable in a routed network;
storing the MAC address in association with the logical identifier in a data structure in a storage device of a switch; and
construct an update message for a remote switch, wherein the update message comprises a MAC address learned from a local port and a switch identifier of the switch.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising identifying a port identifier from the notification message, wherein the port identifier identifies a port from which a remote switch has learned the MAC address.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising, in response to identifying the MAC address as a destination address of a packet, determining a local port associated with the remote switch as an egress port for the packet.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
identifying a second identifier associated with the MAC address from a second notification message; and
updating the data structure in the storage device by storing MAC address in association with the second identifier.
12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising identifying a virtual local area network (VLAN) tag associated with the MAC address from the notification message.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the MAC address is a multicast address associated with a multicast group.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the MAC address is assigned to an end device multi-homed with the switch group.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
identifying a media access control (MAC) address and a logical identifier from a payload of a notification message, wherein the logical identifier identifies a switch group comprising a plurality of switches, wherein the notification message includes an encapsulation header forwardable in a routed network;
storing the MAC address in association with the logical identifier in a data structure in a storage device of a switch; and
construct an update message for a remote switch, wherein the update message comprises a MAC address learned from a local port and a switch identifier of the switch.
16. The storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises identifying from the notification message one or more of:
a port identifier, wherein the port identifier identifies a port from which a remote switch has learned the MAC address; and
a virtual local area network (VLAN) tag associated with the MAC address.
17. The storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:
identifying a second identifier associated with the MAC address from a second notification message; and
updating the data structure in the storage device by storing MAC address in association with the second identifier.
18. The storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises identifying a virtual local area network (VLAN) tag associated with the MAC address from the notification message.
19. The storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the MAC address is a multicast address associated with a multicast group.
20. The storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the MAC address is assigned to an end device multi-homed with the switch group.