IP Library Granted Patent US 8,949,385
Granted Patent B2
US 8,949,385 · App. 13/246,110 · Granted Feb 3, 2015

Method and apparatus for resolving conflicting unicast advertisements in a transport network

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,949,385
App. No.
13/246,110
Granted
Feb 3, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product for resolving conflicting unicast advertisements in transport network is presented. A particular Backbone Virtual Local Area Network (BVLAN) as a first BVLAN (BVLAN 1 ) on a first network device in a transport network. The first network device receives a first message from a second network device advertising a first Backbone Media Access Channel (BMAC) on a first BVLAN (BMAC 1 ,BVLAN 1 ). The first network device receives a second message from a third network device advertising the (BMAC 1 ,BVLAN 1 ). The (BMAC 1 ,BVLAN 1 ) is assigned to the device of the second network device and the third network device having a lower Identifier (ID) value, wherein the ID value comprises one of the group comprising an Intermediate System to Intermediate System (ISIS) system ID and a Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) bridge ID.

Claims (61)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

designating a particular Backbone Virtual Local Area Network (BVLAN) as a first BVLAN on a first network device in a transport network;

receiving, at said first network device, a first message from a second network device advertising a first Backbone Media Access Channel (BMAC) on said first BVLAN;

receiving, at said first network device, a second message from a third network device advertising said first BMAC on said first BVLAN;

detecting a conflict due to said first BMAC on said first BVLAN being advertised by said second network device and said third network device;

recognizing that said particular BVLAN is said first BVLAN; and

assigning said first BMAC on said first BVLAN to the device of said second network device and said third network device having a lower Identifier (ID) value on said first BVLAN.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

designating a second particular BVLAN as a second BVLAN fon said first network device;

receiving, at said first network device, a third message from a fourth network device advertising said second BMAC on said second BVLAN;

receiving, at said first network device, a fourth message from a fifth network device advertising said second BMAC on said second BVLAN;

detecting a conflict due to said second BMAC on said second BVLAN being advertised by said fourth network device and said fifth network device;

recognizing that said second particular BVLAN is said second BVLAN; and

assigning said second BMAC on said second BVLAN to the device of said fourth network device and said fifth network device having a higher Identifier (ID) value on said second BVLAN.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said ID value comprises one of the group comprising an Intermediate System to Intermediate System (ISIS) system ID and a Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) bridge ID.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said transport network comprises a Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said second network device and said third network device comprises a dual homed pair of devices and wherein said first BMAC comprises a Virtual BMAC (VBMAC 1 ).

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising one of said second network device and said third network device failing.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising assigning said VBMAC to the non-failing one of said second network device and said third network device.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the failed one of said second network device and said third network device recovering.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising, after the failed one of said second network device and said third network device recovers, assigning said first BMAC on said first BVLAN to the device of said second network device and said third network device having a lower Identifier (ID) value on said first BVLAN.

10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable code thereon for resolving conflicting unicast advertisements in a network, the medium including instructions in which a computer system performs operations comprising:

designating a particular Backbone Virtual Local Area Network (BVLAN) as a first BVLAN on a first network device in a transport network;

receiving, at said first network device, a first message from a second network device advertising a first Backbone Media Access Channel (BMAC) on said first BVLAN;

receiving, at said first network device, a second message from a third network device advertising said first BMAC on said first BVLAN;

detecting a conflict due to said first BMAC on said first BVLAN being advertised by said second network device and said third network device;

recognizing that said particular BVLAN is said first BVLAN; and

assigning said first BMAC on said first BVLAN to the device of said second network device and said third network device having a lower Identifier (ID) value on said first BVLAN.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 further comprising instructions for:

designating a second particular BVLAN as a second BVLAN on said first network device;

receiving, at said first network device, a third message from a fourth network device advertising said second BMAC on said second BVLAN;

receiving, at said first network device, a fourth message from a fifth network device advertising said second BMAC on said second BVLAN;

detecting a conflict due to said second BMAC on said second BVLAN being advertised by said fourth network device and said fifth network device;

recognizing that said second particular BVLAN is said second BVLAN; and

assigning said second BMAC on said second BVLAN to the device of said fourth network device and said fifth network device having a higher Identifier (ID) value on said second BVLAN.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 further comprising instructions wherein said ID value comprises one of the group comprising an Intermediate System to Intermediate System (ISIS) system ID and a Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) bridge ID.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 further comprising instructions wherein said transport network comprises a Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) network.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 further comprising instructions wherein said second network device and said third network device comprises a dual homed pair of devices and wherein said BMAC 1 comprises a Virtual BMAC (VBMAC 1 ).

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14 further comprising one of said second network device and said third network device failing.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions for assigning said VBMAC to the non-failing one of said second network device and said third network device.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 further comprising instructions for the failed one of said second network device and said third network device recovering.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 further comprising instructions for after the failed one of said second network device and said third network device recovers, assigning said first BMAC on said first BVLAN to the device of said second network device and said third network device having a lower Identifier (ID) value.

19. A computer system comprising:

a memory;

a processor;

a communications interface;

an interconnection mechanism coupling the memory, the processor and the communications interface; and

wherein the memory is encoded with an application for resolving conflicting unicast advertisements in a Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) Network, that when performed on the processor, provides a process for processing information, the process causing the computer system to perform the operations of:

designating a particular Backbone Virtual Local Area Network (BVLAN) as a first BVLAN on a first network device in a transport network;

receiving, at said first network device, a first message from a second network device advertising a first Backbone Media Access Channel (BMAC) on said first BVLAN;

receiving, at said first network device, a second message from a third network device advertising said first BMAC on said first BVLAN;

detecting a conflict due to said first BMAC on said first BVLAN being advertised by said second network device and said third network device;

recognizing that said particular BVLAN is said first BVLAN; and

assigning said first BMAC on said first BVLAN to the device of said second network device and said third network device having a lower Identifier (ID) value on said first BVLAN.

20. The computer system of claim 19 further comprising:

designating a second particular BVLAN as a second BVLAN (on said first network device;

receiving, at said first network device, a third message from a fourth network device advertising said second BMAC on said second BVLAN;

receiving, at said first network device, a fourth message from a fifth network device advertising said second BMAC on said second BVLAN;

detecting a conflict due to said second BMAC on said second BVLAN being advertised by said fourth network device and said fifth network device;

recognizing that said second particular BVLAN is said second BVLAN; and

assigning said second BMAC on said second BVLAN to the device of said fourth network device and said fifth network device having a higher Identifier (ID) value on said second BVLAN.

Assignments (13)
AMENDED SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 18, 2023
From: EXTREME NETWORKS, INC.; AEROHIVE NETWORKS, INC.
To: BANK OF MONTREAL
Reel/Frame 064782/0971 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2018
From: EXTREME NETWORKS, INC.
To: BANK OF MONTREAL
Reel/Frame 046050/0546 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2018
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK
To: EXTREME NETWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 046051/0775 →
BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING ALL LIENS INCLUDING THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 030083/0639 Recorded Dec 15, 2017
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
To: AVAYA INC.
Reel/Frame 045012/0666 →
BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING ALL LIENS INCLUDING THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 029608/0256 Recorded Dec 15, 2017
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
To: AVAYA INC.
Reel/Frame 044891/0801 →
BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING ALL LIENS INCLUDING THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 041576/0001 Recorded Dec 15, 2017
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: AVAYA INC.; AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS INC.; OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION); VPNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 044893/0531 →
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT AND TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 31, 2017
From: EXTREME NETWORKS, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 044639/0300 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2017
From: AVAYA INC.; AVAYA COMMUNICATION ISRAEL LTD; AVAYA HOLDINGS LIMITED
To: EXTREME NETWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 043569/0047 →
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT AND TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 14, 2017
From: EXTREME NETWORKS, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 043200/0614 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2017
From: AVAYA INC.; AVAYA INTEGRATED CABINET SOLUTIONS INC.; OCTEL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION; VPNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 041576/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 13, 2013
From: AVAYA, INC.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., THE
Reel/Frame 030083/0639 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 10, 2013
From: AVAYA, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 029608/0256 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2011
From: KEESARA, SRIKANTH; ZHOU, XIAOLAN
To: AVAYA INC.
Reel/Frame 026974/0548 →