Abstract: In one embodiment, a rapid spanning tree protocol (RSTP) is executed on an intermediate network device. The RSTP may designate a first port of the device to a Root Port Role and designate one or more second ports of the device to Designated Port Roles, and place the one or more second ports in a forwarding state. Subsequently, the intermediate network device may reassign the Root Port Role from the first port to a third port of the device and blocking the first port. If the intermediate network device receives a proposal bridge protocol data unit (BPDU) message on the third port, rather than transition the one or more second ports to a blocking state, the intermediate device is adapted to maintain the one or more second ports in the forwarding state.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a first port of a device provides connectivity to a customer network and a second port of the device provides connectivity to a provider network. Frame mapping logic associated with the first port processes a network message received at the first port and accesses a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) mapping data structure that maps customer VLAN designations used in the customer network to provider VLAN designations used in the provider network. Frame mapping logic uses the VLAN mapping data structure to associate the received network message with a particular provider VLAN designation based upon the received network message's particular customer VLAN designation. The received network message is then passed toward the second port.

Abstract: Various systems and methods that allow multiple aggregation protocol sessions to be established in a daisy chain network are disclosed. One method involves sending a first aggregation protocol packet and a first session identifier associated therewith to a first network device via a first interface and sending a second aggregation protocol packet and a second session identifier associated therewith to a second network device via the first interface.

Abstract: A system and method automatically configures the interfaces of an intermediate network device. A discovery process operating at the device detects the identity or type of network entities actually coupled to the device's interfaces. Utilizing the identity or type of detected entities, a look-up is performed to obtain a configuration macro specially defined for each detected network entity. The retrieved configuration macros are executed and applied at the respective interfaces. During operation, the intermediate network device continues to monitor the identity and type of entities actually coupled to its interfaces. If a change is detected, such as an entity moving from a first to a second interface, the specially defined configuration macro for that entity floats from the first to the second interface where it is executed and applied.

Abstract: A system and method creates multiple, symmetric spanning trees within a network. Bridges within the network generate, send and process Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) control messages that are updated as they are propagated across the network to reflect the paths followed by the messages. The bridges, moreover, utilize the path indication value of received STP control messages to compute the spanning trees. The path indication values are preferably derived from the sum of Bridge Identifiers (IDs) corresponding to the bridges through which the STP control message has passed from the root bridge to the current bridge processing the STP control message. Each bridge also tags newly received messages with the Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) identifier (VID) associated with the spanning tree for which the bridge is the root, thereby causing the messages to follow more optimal paths through the network.

Abstract: A system and method assures the proper and continued operation of intermediate network devices, such as bridges, in a computer network. The bridge includes a spanning tree protocol (STP) engine, which is configured to have a bridge assurance (BA) sub-engine. The STP engine assigns the bridge's ports to one of a Root, Alternate, Designated or Backup Role. The BA sub-engine directs the STP engine to issue configuration messages from all ports to which neighboring bridges are coupled, including ports assigned to the Root and Alternate roles. The BA sub-engine further looks for the receipt of BPDU messages from neighboring bridges and employs one or more timers to determine whether the neighboring bridges are continuing to operate properly.

Abstract: A broadband access node includes a port for connection with a Digital Subscriber Line and a processor to run code that implements a virtual maintenance end point (vMEP). The vMEP translates an IEEE 802.1ag Loopback Message (LBM) received from a device on an Ethernet access network into a legacy operations and maintenance (OAM) message that is transmitted to a residential gateway (RG) device. The legacy OAM message determines a link-level connectivity status between broadband access node and the RG device. The vMEP also transmits a reply message back to the device on an Ethernet access network in compliance with the IEEE 802.1ag specification. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: A method of operation for a node of an Ethernet access network includes issuing a multicast message on the Ethernet access network by a maintenance end point (MEP) of the node. The multicast message contains a name of a target MEP. The node is further operable to receive a unicast reply message from the target MEP, the unicast message reply containing a MEP identifier (MEP-ID) and a MEP Media Access Control (MAC) address of the target MEP. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A method of implementing a spanning tree protocol for a wireless network conforming to a wireless network standard, the spanning tree protocol substantially conforming to the IEEE 802.1 standard, including a first wireless bridging node wirelessly transmitting BPDU information to other wireless bridging nodes of the network or wirelessly receiving BPDU information from other wireless bridging nodes, the BPDU information encapsulated in one or more control/management frames, e.g., beacon or probe response frames of the wireless network standard, the BPDU information relating to a spanning tree topology containing the first and other wireless bridging nodes.

Abstract: A method of operation for a provider edge device of a core network includes receiving a customer frame from an access network; the customer frame having a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag of a first predetermined bit length. The first VLAN tag including a service instance identifier. The service instance identifier of the first VLAN tag is then mapped into a second VLAN tag of a second predetermined bit length greater than the first predetermined bit length. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: A solution is provided wherein physical link parameters may be negotiated after a link is brought up by having the two devices involved in the link exchange identifiers when the link is initially brought up. These identifiers may be saved in the devices and then utilized upon receipt of subsequent physical link parameter negotiation packets to ensure that these packets are received by a partner who is connected via a physical link.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved unicast routing, multicast routing and unicast load sharing as compared with conventional methods. Preferred implementations of the invention provide improvements to IEEE 802.1Q. According to preferred aspects of the invention, each bridge is the root of its own multiple spanning tree instance (“MSTI”). Preferred implementations of the invention require no learning of media access control (“MAC”) addresses on the backbone of a network. Some methods of the invention can resolve spanning tree asymmetries. Preferred implementations of the invention require a very low computational load for control protocols.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power negotiation protocol that enables PDs and PSEs to negotiate the amount of inline power that a PD consumes and the corresponding PSE provides. This power negotiation allows the PDs provide fine-grained power consumption level to PSEs, and the PSEs are able to manage inline power efficiently using the negotiation protocol of the present invention. The PDs can ask the PSEs for more power when needed rather than having to constantly reserve the maximum amount of power they can consume at all times. Similarly, the PDs can release reservation of excess power when their respective power requirements decrease. The PSEs can limit the amount of power that can be consumed by the PD, thereby providing the ability for an administrator to control how much power a given PD can consume.

Abstract: A method for data communication across a layer 2 bridged network having two or more edge nodes configured for receiving and transmitting multiprotocol data packets. The method includes creating a pseudowire circuit across the bridged network, receiving data packets at one of the edge nodes, encapsulating data packets into pseudowire frames, encapsulating the pseudowire frames inside MAC frames, and transmitting the encapsulated frames over the carrier bridged network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for including network security information in a frame is disclosed. Network security information is included in a secure portion of overhead of a frame. The network security information is configured to facilitate network security. A network device configured to process a frame is also disclosed. The frame includes frame security information and network security information. The frame security information is configured to facilitate securing a portion of overhead of the frame, and the network security information is located in the secure portion of the overhead of the frame and is configured to facilitate network security.

Abstract: Various methods and systems for preventing erroneous link aggregation due to component relocation are disclosed. Such methods include a method for changing the identifier used by a network device and communicating the identifier change to a peer network device without disrupting an aggregated link. In one embodiment, a method involves detecting an identifier change and sending a Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP) protocol data unit (PDU) that includes a new identifier and information. The information indicates the identifier change. The new identifier identifies a network device subsequent to the identifier change. Another embodiment of a method involves detecting an identifier change and, subsequent to the identifier change, sending a link aggregation protocol PDU that includes an “old device identifier” field dedicated to conveying an old identifier. The old identifier identifies a network device prior to the identifier change.

Abstract: A multiple instance spanning tree protocol (MI-STP) creates a plurality of active topologies (i.e., loop-free paths) within a computer network. These active topologies may be established through the exchange and processing of multiple instance spanning tree bridge protocol data unit messages (MI-STP BPDUs) by the intermediate network devices within the network. The active topologies are preferably created independently of any virtual local area network (VLAN) designations defined within the network. Once the active topologies are defined, each VLAN designation is then mapped to a single active topology, although multiple VLAN designations are preferably mapped to the same active topology to provide load balancing.

Abstract: A system and method monitors links in a computer network and rapidly detects failures of such links. Network entities disposed at opposite ends of a link are provided with failure detection engines that signal their presence to each other. Thereafter, each failure detection engine ensures that its entity transmits a continuous stream to the other entity by sending either data frames or newly defined failure detection packets. If an interruption in this continuous stream is detected, then the failure detection engine concludes that the link has failed. In response, the failure detection engine preferably notifies other applications or protocols of the failure, and causes the link to be shut-down.

Abstract: A system and method efficiently conveys Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) membership information across a bridged network. In particular, an intermediate network device, such as a bridge, includes a plurality of ports for interconnecting entities of a computer network. For each port, a Generic Attribute Registration Protocol (GARP) participant is established that has a compact GARP VLAN Registration Protocol (GVRP) application component and a GARP Information Declaration (GID) component. The GID component operates a plurality of state machines to maintain registration state for all of the VLANs of which the port has been made aware. The compact-GVRP application component further includes an encoder/decoder unit that collapses VLAN registration information according to an encoding algorithm. The collapsed VLAN registration information is then loaded into a single compact-GVRP PDU message for transmission from the respective port.

Abstract: An encapsulation mechanism efficiently transports packets between ports of different switches in a network on the basis of, inter alia, virtual local area network (VLAN) associations among those ports. The switches are preferably interconnected by a novel interswitch link (ISL) mechanism that appends ISL destination and source information, along with ISL error detection information, to VLAN-modified packets. The ISL mechanism keeps the VLAN associations of the packets intact during transfer between the switches in accordance with a high-performance switching bus architecture.