Abstract: Techniques for implementing a provisional mode in a multi-mode network device (i.e., a network device that supports at least first and second modes of operation) are provided. According to one embodiment, the network device can receive, while running in the first mode, a request to enter the second mode. In response to the request, the network device can enter a third mode that is a provisional version of the second mode. Then, while running in the third mode, the network device can accept one or more configuration commands or settings for the second mode while simultaneously processing live network traffic according to the first mode.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing a provisional mode in a multi-mode network device (i.e., a network device that supports at least first and second modes of operation) are provided. According to one embodiment, the network device can receive, while running in the first mode, a request to enter the second mode. In response to the request, the network device can enter a third mode that is a provisional version of the second mode. Then, while running in the third mode, the network device can accept one or more configuration commands or settings for the second mode while simultaneously processing live network traffic according to the first mode.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing a provisional mode in a multi-mode network device (i.e., a network device that supports at least first and second modes of operation) are provided. According to one embodiment, the network device can receive, while running in the first mode, a request to enter the second mode. In response to the request, the network device can enter a third mode that is a provisional version of the second mode. Then, while running in the third mode, the network device can accept one or more configuration commands or settings for the second mode while simultaneously processing live network traffic according to the first mode.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating port extender (PE) ID assignment in an extended bridge are provided. According to one set of embodiments, a controlling bridge (CB) can store a set of one or more port extender PE ID configurations for the extended bridge. At least one PE ID configuration in the stored set can include (1) an identity of a first CB port, and (2) a plurality of PE IDs corresponding to PEs connected to the first CB port, in connection order. In cases where the plurality of PEs form a ring that also connects to a second CB port, the at least one PE ID configuration can also include an identity of the second CB port.

Abstract: Techniques for handling dynamic cascade port/LAG changes in an extended bridge are provided. According to one embodiment, a first network device in an extended bridge can maintain a shadow table that stores information regarding one or more ports and one or more LAGs used to interconnect the network devices in the extended bridge. The first network device can further receive, from a user via a device UI, a command relating to a change to a port or a LAG, update the shadow table based on the change, transmit a change message to one or more other network devices affected by the change, and start a timer associated with the one or more other network devices. In various embodiments, the updating and the transmitting can be performed without blocking the user from entering further commands via the device UI.

Abstract: Techniques for configuring/learning the link aggregation groups (LAGs) of a port extender (PE) at the time the PE joins an extended bridge are provided. According to one embodiment, a first network device in a system of network devices (e.g., an extended bridge) can receive a join message from a second network device in the system, where the join message includes a LAG configuration for one or more LAGs programmed on the second network device. The first network device can further determine whether a provisional LAG configuration for the one or more LAGs of the second network device exists on the first network device. If a provisional LAG configuration does not exist on the first network device, the first network device can learn the LAG configuration included in the join message and can integrate the second network device into the system based on the learned LAG configuration.

Abstract: Techniques for handling dynamic cascade port/LAG changes without breaking communication in an extended bridge are provided. According to one embodiment, a first network device (e.g., controlling bridge) in a system of network devices (e.g., extended bridge) can receive a command relating to a change to at least one port or LAG of the system. The first network device can then transmit change messages to one or more other network devices (e.g., port extenders) in the system that are affected by the change, where the change messages are transmitted in an order based on the distance of each of the one or more other network devices from the first network device.

Abstract: Techniques for handling connections between network devices that support multiple port communication modes are provided. In one embodiment, a first network device can detect a communication problem between a local port of the first network device and a peer port of a second network device, where the local port supports a plurality of communication modes including a default mode and one or more non-default modes. The first network device can further set the local port to operate in the default mode, receive on the local port a user-configured mode of the peer port from the second network device, and determine a communication mode for the local port from the plurality of communication modes, where the determining is based on the user-configured mode of the peer port and a user-configured mode of the local port. The first network device can then set the local port to operate in the determined communication mode.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating port extender (PE) ID assignment in an extended bridge are provided. According to one set of embodiments, a controlling bridge (CB) can store a set of one or more port extender PE ID configurations for the extended bridge. At least one PE ID configuration in the stored set can include (1) an identity of a first CB port, and (2) a plurality of PE IDs corresponding to PEs connected to the first CB port, in connection order. In cases where the plurality of PEs form a ring that also connects to a second CB port, the at least one PE ID configuration can also include an identity of the second CB port.

Abstract: Techniques for validating configuration changes in a mixed node topology are provided. In one embodiment, a device can identify a link to be removed from a topology comprising a plurality of nodes, where the plurality of nodes includes one or more nodes of a first type and one or more nodes of a second type. The device can then determine whether the removal of the link from the topology would require data traffic between two nodes of the first type to pass through a node of the second type.

Abstract: Techniques for reducing broadcast and multicast traffic in a stacking system are provided. In one embodiment, a master device in the stacking system can automatically determine a minimal set of VLAN associations for stacking links in the stacking system. The minimal set of VLAN associations can avoid unnecessary transmission of broadcast or multicast packets through the system's topology.

Abstract: A framework for reliably communicating port information in a system of devices is provided. In one embodiment, each device in the system of devices can create a first record that includes port information pertaining to a plurality of ports of the device, where the plurality of ports are usable for communicatively coupling the device to other devices in the system of devices. The device can further receive, from the other devices in the system of devices, one or more second records including port information pertaining to the ports of the other devices, and can store the first record and the one or more second records in a data store maintained locally on the device. The device can then forward copies of the first record and the one or more second records out of each of the plurality of ports, thereby causing the copies of the first record and the one or more second records to be communicated to the other devices in the system of devices.

Abstract: Techniques for aggregating hardware routing resources in a system of devices are provided. In one embodiment, a device in the system of devices can divide routing entries in a software routing table of the system into a plurality of route subsets. The device can further assign each route subset in the plurality of route subsets to one or more devices in the system. The device can then install, for each route subset that is assigned to the device, routing entries in the route subset into a hardware routing table of the device.

Abstract: Techniques for simplifying stacking trunk creation and management are provided. In one embodiment, a switch in a stacking system can receive first and second control packets from one or more other switches in the stacking system, where the first and second control packets are received on first and second stacking ports of the switch respectively. The switch can then determine, based on the first and second control packets, whether the first and second stacking ports can be configured as a single stacking trunk.

Abstract: Techniques for handling dynamic cascade port/LAG changes without breaking communication in an extended bridge are provided. According to one embodiment, a first network device (e.g., controlling bridge) in a system of network devices (e.g., extended bridge) can receive a command relating to a change to at least one port or LAG of the system. The first network device can then transmit change messages to one or more other network devices (e.g., port extenders) in the system that are affected by the change, where the change messages are transmitted in an order based on the distance of each of the one or more other network devices from the first network device.

Abstract: Techniques for configuring/learning the link aggregation groups (LAGs) of a port extender (PE) at the time the PE joins an extended bridge are provided. According to one embodiment, a first network device in a system of network devices (e.g., an extended bridge) can receive a join message from a second network device in the system, where the join message includes a LAG configuration for one or more LAGs programmed on the second network device. The first network device can further determine whether a provisional LAG configuration for the one or more LAGs of the second network device exists on the first network device. If a provisional LAG configuration does not exist on the first network device, the first network device can learn the LAG configuration included in the join message and can integrate the second network device into the system based on the learned LAG configuration.

Abstract: Techniques for handling dynamic cascade port/LAG changes in an extended bridge are provided. According to one embodiment, a first network device in an extended bridge can maintain a shadow table that stores information regarding one or more ports and one or more LAGs used to interconnect the network devices in the extended bridge. The first network device can further receive, from a user via a device UI, a command relating to a change to a port or a LAG, update the shadow table based on the change, transmit a change message to one or more other network devices affected by the change, and start a timer associated with the one or more other network devices. In various embodiments, the updating and the transmitting can be performed without blocking the user from entering further commands via the device UI.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing a provisional mode in a multi-mode network device (i.e., a network device that supports at least first and second modes of operation) are provided. According to one embodiment, the network device can receive, while running in the first mode, a request to enter the second mode. In response to the request, the network device can enter a third mode that is a provisional version of the second mode. Then, while running in the third mode, the network device can accept one or more configuration commands or settings for the second mode while simultaneously processing live network traffic according to the first mode.

Abstract: Techniques for assigning device identifiers in a system of devices are provided. In one embodiment, a master device of the system can maintain a first configuration that specifies a set of links between a first subset of the devices, where the first configuration includes a device identifier for each device in the first subset. The master device can further generate a second configuration that specifies a set of links between a second subset of the devices, where the second configuration is based on a physical topology of the system, and where one or more devices in the second subset are unknown devices that are not associated with a device identifier in the physical topology. The master device can then assign device identifiers to the unknown devices in the second subset by comparing the first configuration with the second configuration.

Abstract: Techniques for handling connections between network devices that support multiple port communication modes are provided. In one embodiment, a first network device can detect a communication problem between a local port of the first network device and a peer port of a second network device, where the local port supports a plurality of communication modes including a default mode and one or more non-default modes. The first network device can further set the local port to operate in the default mode, receive on the local port a user-configured mode of the peer port from the second network device, and determine a communication mode for the local port from the plurality of communication modes, where the determining is based on the user-configured mode of the peer port and a user-configured mode of the local port. The first network device can then set the local port to operate in the determined communication mode.