IP Library Granted Patent US 9,509,561
Granted Patent B2
US 9,509,561 · App. 15/178,017 · Granted Nov 29, 2016

System and method for determining the configuration of switches in virtual link trunking environments

Inventor: Pathangi Narasimhan Janardhanan (Tamilnadu, IN)
Assignee: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
H04L41/0803H04L45/245
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,509,561
App. No.
15/178,017
Granted
Nov 29, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method of determining the configuration of a network switching unit includes receiving a configuration message on a network link. The network switching unit is associated with a first switch ID and belongs to a domain associated with a first domain ID. The system and method further includes identifying a second domain ID and a second switch ID based on at least information associated with the configuration message; determining whether the first domain ID and the second domain ID match; if the first domain ID and the second domain ID match, adding the network link to a first link aggregation group (LAG) associated with the second switch ID and designating the first LAG as part of an intra cluster link (ICL); and if the first domain ID and the second domain ID do not match, adding the network link to a second LAG associated with the second domain ID.

Claims (60)

1. A network switching unit comprising:

one or more hardware processors;

wherein the one or more hardware processors are configured to execute code to cause the network switching unit to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first configuration message on a first network link coupling the network switching unit to another network switching unit;

identifying a first domain ID assigned to the another network switching unit based on the first configuration message;

determining whether the first domain ID matches a second domain ID assigned to the network switching unit;

in response to determining that the first domain ID matches the second domain ID adding the first network link to a first link aggregation group (LAG) associated with the first domain ID and designating the first LAG as part of an intra cluster link (ICL);

in response to determining that the first domain ID does not match the second domain ID, adding the first network link to a second LAG associated with the first domain ID; and

forwarding network traffic using the first LAG and the second LAG and

the second LAG to improve the forwarding by the network switching unit and redundancy of a network.

2. The network switching unit of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise: formatting a second configuration message including the second domain ID; and broadcasting the second configuration message on each of one or more second network links, the one or more second network links including the first network link.

3. The network switching unit of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise ignoring the first configuration message when the first configuration message does not include the first domain ID.

4. The network switching unit of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise ignoring the first configuration message when the first domain ID is zero.

5. The network switching unit of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise configuring the network switching unit using at least the first LAG, the second LAG, and the ICL.

6. The network switching unit of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining whether the first LAG exists; and

in response to determining that the first LAG does not exist, creating the first LAG before adding the first network link to the first LAG.

7. The network switching unit of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining whether the second LAG exists; and

in response to determining that the second LAG does not exist, creating the second LAG before adding the first network link to the second LAG.

8. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first network switching device having one or more hardware processors, a first configuration message on a first network link coupling the first network switching device to a second network switching device;

identifying, by the one or more hardware processors, a first domain ID assigned to the second network switching device based on the first configuration message;

determining, by the one or more hardware processors, whether the first domain ID matches a second domain ID assigned to the first network switching device;

in response to determining that the first domain ID matches the second domain ID adding, by the one or more hardware processors, the first network link to a first link aggregation group (LAG) associated with the first domain ID and designating, by the one or more hardware processors, the first LAG as part of an intra cluster link (ICL);

in response to determining that the first domain ID does not match the second domain ID, adding, by the one or more hardware processors, the first network link to a second LAG associated with the first domain ID; and

forwarding, by the first network switching device, network traffic using the first LAG and the second LAG to improve the forwarding by the first network switching device and redundancy of a network.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

formatting, by the one or more hardware processors, a second configuration message including the second domain ID assigned to the first network switching device; and

broadcasting, by the first network switching device, the second configuration message on each of one or more second network links, the one or more second network links including the first network link.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising ignoring, by the first network switching device, the first configuration message when the first configuration message does not include the first domain ID.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising ignoring, by the first network switching device, the first configuration message when the first domain ID is zero.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising configuring the first network switching device using at least the first LAG, the second LAG, and the ICL.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining, by the one or more hardware processors, whether the first LAG exists; and

in response to determining that the first LAG does not exist, creating, by the one or more hardware processors, the first LAG before adding the first network link to the first LAG.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining, by the one or more hardware processors, whether the second LAG exists; and

in response to determining that the second LAG does not exist, creating, by the one or more hardware processors, the second LAG before adding the first network link to the second LAG and the second LAG to improve the forwarding by the network switching unit and redundancy of a network.

15. An information handling system comprising:

a domain associated with a first domain ID;

the domain comprising a first switch having one or more hardware processors;

wherein the first switch is configured to:

receive a first configuration message on a first network link coupling the first switch to a second switch;

identify a second domain ID assigned to the second switch based on the first configuration message;

determine whether the first domain ID matches the second domain ID;

in response to determining that the first domain ID matches the second domain ID add the first network link to a first link aggregation group (LAG) associated with the first domain ID and designate the first LAG as part of an intra cluster link (ICL);

in response to determining that the first domain ID does not match the second domain ID, add the first network link to a second LAG associated with the first domain ID; and

forward network traffic to the second switch using the first LAG or the second LAG to improve the forwarding by the first switch and redundancy of a network.

16. The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein the first switch is further configured to:

format a second configuration message including the first domain ID; and

broadcast the second configuration message on each of one or more second network links, the one or more second network links including the first network link.

17. The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein the first switch is further configured to ignore the first configuration message when the first configuration message does not include the second domain ID or the second domain ID is zero.

18. The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein the first switch is further configured to configure the first switch using at least the first LAG, the second LAG, and the ICL.

19. The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein the first switch is further configured to:

determine whether the first LAG exists; and

in response to determining that the first LAG does not exist, create the first LAG before adding the first network link to the first LAG.

20. The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein the first switch is further configured to:

determine whether the second LAG exists; and

in response to determining that the second LAG does not exist, create the second LAG before adding the first network link to the second LAG.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SEC. INT. IN PATENTS (NOTES) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040026/0710 →
RELEASE OF SEC. INT. IN PATENTS (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040027/0329 →
RELEASE OF SEC. INT. IN PATENTS (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040013/0733 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 11, 2016
From: JANARDHANAN, PATHANGI NARASIMHAN
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 039411/0059 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Aug 10, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 039643/0953 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Aug 10, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 039719/0889 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Aug 10, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 039644/0084 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 13750507 · Jan 25, 2013
Related Publication 20160294613A1 · Oct 6, 2016