IP Library Granted Patent US 12,113,707
Granted Patent B2
US 12,113,707 · App. 18/446,519 · Granted Oct 8, 2024

MAC-based redistribution in multi-area networks

Inventors: Lava K. Lavu (Bedford, MA); Constantin Barcaru (Bucharest, RO)
Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
H04L45/566H04L12/18H04L12/4633H04L41/12H04L45/34H04L45/44H04L45/66H04L2101/622
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,113,707
App. No.
18/446,519
Granted
Oct 8, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided herein are systems and methods for providing a MAC-based redistribution policy between networks in a multi-area network. A network can have a boundary node that communicates to neighboring networks. Boundary nodes can receive policy updates that identify which services are redistributable across network boundaries. Boundary nodes can receive a packet for a service, translate the packet's encapsulation, and forward the packet across the boundary towards a destination node. Boundary nodes can forward the packet such that it originates in the second network from a virtual node.

Claims (61)

1. A method for synchronizing addresses between multiple forwarding nodes in a multi-area network, the method comprising:

receiving, at a boundary node in a first network of the multi-area network, a media access control (MAC) learn Type-Length-Value (TLV) from a node in a second network, wherein the boundary node is on a boundary between the first network and a third network of the multi-area network, wherein the MAC learn TLV comprises a customer MAC address and a backbone MAC destination address (BMAC-DA), and wherein the customer MAC address is absent from the node;

adding, by the boundary node, the customer MAC address pointing to the BMAC-DA to a MAC table for the boundary node; and

updating, by a control plane and other boundary nodes on the boundary, a respective MAC table for each of the other boundary nodes based on the MAC table.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein updating each of the respective MAC tables based on the MAC table comprises:

creating, in the control plane, an updated MAC learn TLV based on the MAC table;

sending, by the control plane, the updated MAC learn TLV to each of the other boundary nodes; and

updating, in each of the other boundary nodes, the respective MAC table based on the updated MAC learn TLV.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to the customer MAC address added to the MAC table being present for longer than a predetermined time period:

removing, in the boundary node, the customer MAC address from the MAC table; and

updating, by the control plane, the respective MAC table for each of the other boundary nodes based on the MAC table.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

in response to removing the customer MAC address, determining, in the boundary node, whether a second MAC learn TLV is stored in a TLV list, wherein the second MAC learn TLV comprises the customer MAC address and a second BMAC-DA.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

in response to determining that the second MAC learn TLV is stored in the TLV list:

promoting, by the boundary node, the customer MAC address pointing to the second BMAC-DA to the MAC table; and

updating, by the control plane, the respective MAC table for each of the other boundary nodes based on the MAC table.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing, by the boundary node, the MAC learn TLV in a TLV list.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising updating, by the boundary node, for each interior node in the first network, a different respective MAC table based on the MAC table of the boundary node.

8. A boundary node for synchronizing addresses between multiple forwarding nodes in a multi-area network, the boundary node comprising:

a memory; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and configured to:

receive, at the boundary node in a first network of the multi-area network, a media access control (MAC) learn Type-Length-Value (TLV) from a node in a second network, wherein the boundary node is on a boundary between the first network and a third network of the multi-area network, wherein the MAC learn TLV comprises a customer MAC address and a backbone MAC destination address (BMAC-DA), and wherein the customer MAC address is absent from the node;

add the customer MAC address pointing to the BMAC-DA to a MAC table for the boundary node; and

update, using a control plane and other boundary nodes on the boundary, a respective MAC table for each of the other boundary nodes based on the MAC table.

9. The boundary node of claim 8 , wherein to update each of the respective MAC tables based on the MAC table, the processor is configured to:

create, in the control plane, an updated MAC learn TLV based on the MAC table;

send, by the control plane, the updated MAC learn TLV to each of the other boundary nodes; and

update, in each of the other boundary nodes, the respective MAC table based on the updated MAC learn TLV.

10. The boundary node of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

in response to the customer MAC address added to the MAC table being present for longer than a predetermined time period:

remove the customer MAC address from the MAC table; and

update, using the control plane, the respective MAC table for each of the other boundary nodes based on the MAC table.

11. The boundary node of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

in response to removing the customer MAC address, determine whether a second MAC learn TLV is stored in a TLV list, wherein the second MAC learn TLV comprises the customer MAC address and a second BMAC-DA.

12. The boundary node of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

in response to determining that the second MAC learn TLV is stored in the TLV list:

promote the customer MAC address pointing to the second BMAC-DA to the MAC table; and

update, using the control plane, the respective MAC table for each of the other boundary nodes based on the MAC table.

13. The boundary node of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to store the MAC learn TLV in a TLV list.

14. The boundary node of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to update, for each interior node in the first network, a different respective MAC table based on the MAC table of the boundary node.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable code thereon, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions configured to cause a computer system to perform operations by a boundary node for synchronizing addresses between multiple forwarding nodes in a multi-area network, the operations comprising:

receiving, at the boundary node in a first network of the multi-area network, a media access control (MAC) learn Type-Length-Value (TLV) from a node in a second network, wherein the boundary node is on a boundary between the first network and a third network of the multi-area network, wherein the MAC learn TLV comprises a customer MAC address and a backbone MAC destination address (BMAC-DA), and wherein the customer MAC address is absent from the node;

adding, by the boundary node, the customer MAC address pointing to the BMAC-DA to a MAC table for the boundary node; and

updating, by a control plane and other boundary nodes on the boundary, a respective MAC table for each of the other boundary nodes based on the MAC table.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein updating each of the respective MAC tables based on the MAC table comprises:

creating, in the control plane, an updated MAC learn TLV based on the MAC table;

sending, by the control plane, the updated MAC learn TLV to each of the other boundary nodes; and

updating, in each of the other boundary nodes, the respective MAC table based on the updated MAC learn TLV.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , the operations further comprising:

in response to the customer MAC address added to the MAC table being present for longer than a predetermined time period:

removing, in the boundary node, the customer MAC address from the MAC table; and

updating, by the control plane, the respective MAC table for each of the other boundary nodes based on the MAC table.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , the operations further comprising:

in response to removing the customer MAC address, determining, in the boundary node, whether a second MAC learn TLV is stored in a TLV list, wherein the second MAC learn TLV comprises the customer MAC address and a second BMAC-DA.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , the operations further comprising:

in response to determining that the second MAC learn TLV is stored in the TLV list:

promoting, by the boundary node, the customer MAC address pointing to the second BMAC-DA to the MAC table; and

updating, by the control plane, the respective MAC table for each of the other boundary nodes based on the MAC table.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , the operations further comprising storing, by the boundary node, the MAC learn TLV in a TLV list.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2026
From: EXTREME NETWORKS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 076078/0590 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2023
From: LAVU, LAVA K; BARCARU, CONSTANTIN
To: EXTREME NETWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 064530/0987 →
Continuity (2)
Division 17168943 · Feb 5, 2021
Related Publication 20230388229A1 · Nov 30, 2023