IP Library Granted Patent US 7,706,382
Granted Patent B2
US 7,706,382 · App. 10/944,894 · Granted Apr 27, 2010

Method and system for managing a network having multiple domains

Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,706,382
App. No.
10/944,894
Filed
Sep 21, 2004
Granted
Apr 27, 2010
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2416
USPC
370/389
Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to a system and method for managing a network having multiple domains. An exemplary method includes identifying a router interface connected with a switch; assigning a Layer 2 identifier to the interface, wherein the identifier uniquely identifies a Layer 2 domain within the network; and assigning the Layer 2 identifier to the switch.

Claims (39)

1. A method for managing a network having multiple domains , comprising:

identifying a router interface connected directly with a switch;

assigning a Layer 2 identifier to the router interface connected directly with the switch, wherein the Layer 2 identifier uniquely identifies a Layer 2 domain within the network that has redundant virtual local area network (VLAN) identifiers;

assigning the same Layer 2 identifier to the switch that is connected directly with the router interface; and

repeatedly assigning the Layer 2 identifier to each of multiple switches downstream from the router interface until a predetermined condition is detected,

wherein the Layer 2 identifier differentiates the redundant VLAN identifiers in the network.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition is detection of another router interface.

3. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition is detection of the last switch in a path extending from the router interface.

4. A method for managing a network having multiple domains, comprising:

identifying a router interface connected directly with a switch;

assigning a Layer 2 identifier to the router interface connected directly with the switch, wherein the Layer 2 identifier uniquely identifies a Layer 2 domain within the network that has redundant virtual local area network (VLAN) identifiers;

assigning the same Layer 2 identifier to the switch that is connected directly with the router interface, and

repeating the identifying of a router interface and the assigning of a Layer 2 identifier to a router interface for each of multiple router interfaces associated with a router in the networks,

wherein the Layer 2 identifier differentiates the redundant VLAN identifiers in the network.

5. A System for managing a network having multiple domains comprising:

a management computer configured to assign a Layer 2 identifier to a router interface of a router in a network that has redundant virtual local area network (VLAN) identifiers, and configured to assign the same Layer 2 identifier to a switch determined by the management computer to be directly connected to the router interface to differentiate the redundant VLAN identifiers in the network; and

a memory, accessible by the management computer, for storing a list of nodes associated with the Layer 2 identifier,

wherein the management computer repeatedly assigns the Layer 2 identifier to each of multiple switches downstream from the router interface until a predetermined condition is detected.

6. System, according to claim 5 , wherein the predetermined condition is the detection of another router interface.

7. System according to claim 5 , wherein the predetermined condition is detection of a last switch in a path extending from the router interface.

8. A System for managing a network having multiple domains comprising:

a management computer configured to assign a Layer 2 identifier to a router interface of a router in a network that has redundant virtual local area network (VLAN) identifiers, and configured to assign the same Layer 2 identifier to a switch determined by the management computer to be directly connected to the router interface to differentiate the redundant VLAN identifiers in the network;

a memory, accessible by the management computer, for storing a list of nodes associated with the Layer 2 identifier, and

wherein the management computer repeats the identifying of a router interface, and the assigning of a Layer 2 identifier to a router interface, for each of multiple router interfaces associated with a router in the network.

9. A system for managing a network having multiple domains, comprising:

means for identifying a router interface connected directly with a switch within a network that has redundant virtual local area network (VLAN) identifiers, and for assigning a same unique Layer 2 identifier to both the router interface and the switch to differentiate the redundant VLAN identifiers in the network; and

means for storing a list of nodes associated with the Layer 2 identifier for retrieval using the Layer 2 identifier,

wherein the identifying and assigning means repeatedly assigns the Layer 2 identifier to each of multiple switches connected to the router interface until a predetermined condition is detected.

10. System according to claim 9 , wherein the predetermined condition is detection of another router interface.

11. System according to claim 9 , wherein the predetermined condition is detection of a last switch in a path extending from the router interface.

12. System according to claim 9 , wherein the identifying and assigning means repeatedly identifies a router interface and assigns a Layer 2 identifier to a router interface for each of multiple router interfaces associated with a router in the network.

13. A computer readable medium storing instructions for managing a network having multiple domains, the instructions being executed on a computer and comprising instructions for:

identifying a router interface connected directly with a switch within a network that has redundant virtual local area network (VLAN) identifiers;

assigning a Layer 2 identifier to the router interface connected directly with the switch, wherein the Layer 2 identifier uniquely identifies a Layer 2 domain within the

assigning the same Layer 2 identifier to the switch that is connected directly with the router interface, and repeatedly assigning the Layer 2 identifier to each of multiple switches downstream from the router interface until a predetermined condition is detected,

wherein the Layer 2 identifier differentiates the redundant VLAN identifiers in the network.

14. A computer readable medium according to claim 13 , wherein the predetermined condition is the detection of another router interface.

15. A computer readable medium according to claim 13 , wherein the predetermined condition is the detection of a last switch in a path extending from the router interface.

16. A computer readable medium according to claim 13 , wherein the instructions further include instructions for causing a computer to: repeatedly identify a router interface and assign a Layer 2 identifier to a router interface for each of multiple router interfaces associated with a router in the network.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2015
From: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
To: HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT LP
Reel/Frame 037079/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2004
From: KNEES, MAX C.; PULSIPHER, ERIC; NATARAJAN, SRIKANTH; WANG, ZHI-QIANG; WILSON, LOREN F.
To: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 015821/0260 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 6054007200 · Jan 30, 2004
Related Publication 20050169239A1 · Aug 4, 2005