Use of DHCP to automatically assign nicknames in a SPBM network

1. A method for automatically assigning nicknames in a Shortest Path Bridging Multicast (SPBM) Media Access Control in Media Access Control (MAC in MAC) network (SPBM network), the method comprising:

detecting, at a first switch of a plurality of switches in the SPBM network, a designation of the first switch as being responsible for assigning the nicknames;

in response to detecting the designation, instantiating, at the first switch, a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) service;

detecting, at the first switch, using the DHCP service, a second switch of the plurality of switches in the SPBM network;

in response to detecting the second switch, assigning, using the DHCP service, an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the second switch; and

assigning, by the first switch, a host portion of the IP address as a nickname of the second switch.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting, at the first switch of the plurality of switches in the SPBM network, the designation of the first switch as being responsible for assigning the nicknames comprises:

receiving an input;

determining whether the input requests designation of the first switch as being responsible for assigning the nicknames; and

in response to determining that the input requests designation of the first switch as being responsible for assigning the nicknames, detecting the designation of the first switch as being responsible for assigning the nicknames.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the input specifies a range of nicknames for use by the DHCP service, and wherein the method further comprises instructing the DHCP service to assign IP addresses to the plurality of switches on the SPBM network using host portions that are within the range of nicknames.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein assigning, using the DHCP service, the IP address for the second switch, further comprises:

selecting the IP address for assignment;

determining whether the selected IP address has been assigned to any switch of the plurality of switches; and

in response to determining that the selected IP address has been assigned to any switch of the plurality of switches:

refraining from assigning the selected IP address as the IP address for the second switch; and

assigning a different IP address as the IP address for the second switch.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein assigning, using the DHCP service, the IP address for the second switch, further comprises:

adopting a DHCP lease time for the IP address that is longer than a reboot time of the second switch;

detecting that the second switch has rebooted; and

maintaining the assignment for the IP address to the second switch notwithstanding that the second switch has rebooted.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nickname comprises a 20-bit portion of the host portion of the IP address.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the 20-bit host portion and a 24-bit Internet Service Instance Identifier (I-SID) form an address for use on the SPBM network.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the I-SID represents a traffic flow, and wherein the first switch of the plurality of switches prunes traffic of the traffic flow from streams with downstream nodes that do not subscribe to the traffic flow based on the I-SID value.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second switch, when transmitting multicast traffic over the SPBM network, includes the nickname in the multicast traffic.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein a downstream switch of the plurality of switches on the SPBM network that receives the multicast traffic determines the shortest path tree from which the multicast traffic has traveled based on the nickname.

11. A system for automatically assigning nicknames in a Shortest Path Bridging Multicast (SPBM) Media Access Control in Media Access Control (MAC in MAC) network (SPBM network), the system comprising:

a first switch comprising control circuitry configured to:

detect, at the first switch of a plurality of switches in the SPBM network, a designation of the first switch as being responsible for assigning the nicknames;

in response to detecting the designation, instantiate, at the first switch, a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) service;

detect, at the first switch, using the DHCP service, a second switch of the plurality of switches in the SPBM network;

in response to detecting the second switch, assign, using the DHCP service, an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the second switch; and

assign a host portion of the IP address as a nickname of the second switch,

wherein the control circuitry is configured to assign the IP address that uses the host portion corresponding to the nickname that is within a range of nicknames.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when detecting, at the first switch of the plurality of switches in the SPBM network, the designation of the first switch as being responsible for assigning nicknames, to:

receive an input;

determine whether the input requests designation of the first switch as being responsible for assigning the nicknames; and

in response to determining that the input requests designation of the first switch as being responsible for assigning the nicknames, detect the designation of the first switch as being responsible for assigning the nicknames.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the input specifies the range of nicknames for use by the DHCP service.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when assigning, using the DHCP service, the IP address for the second switch, to:

select the IP address for assignment;

determine whether the selected IP address has been assigned to any switch of the plurality of switches; and

in response to determining that the selected IP address has been assigned to any switch of the plurality of switches:

refrain from assigning the selected IP address as the IP address for the second switch; and

assign a different IP address as the IP address for the second switch.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured, when assigning, using the DHCP service, the IP address for the second switch, to:

adopt a DHCP lease time for the IP address that is longer than a reboot time of the second switch;

detect that the second switch has rebooted; and

maintain the assignment for the IP address to the second switch notwithstanding that the second switch has rebooted.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the nickname comprises a 20-bit portion of the host portion of the IP address.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the 20 -bit host portion and a 24-bit Internet Service Instance Identifier (I-SID) form an address for use on the SPBM network.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the I-SID represents a traffic flow, and wherein first switch of the plurality of switches prunes traffic of the traffic flow from streams with downstream nodes that do not subscribe to the traffic flow based on the I-SID value.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the second switch, when transmitting multicast traffic over the SPBM network, includes the nickname in the multicast traffic.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein a downstream switch of the plurality of switches on the SPBM network that receives the multicast traffic determines the shortest path tree from which the multicast traffic has traveled based on the nickname.