Abstract: According to some embodiments, the switching units of a single domain (“first domain”) discover that they are connected to switching units of another, “second domain”, and the switching units of each domain configure a single LAG of inter-domain links each of which interconnects switching units of different domains. The LAG connects multiple switching units of the first domain to multiple switching units of the second domain.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, the switching units of a single domain (“first domain”) discover that they are connected to switching units of another, “second domain”, and the switching units of each domain configure a single LAG of inter-domain links each of which interconnects switching units of different domains. The LAG connects multiple switching units of the first domain to multiple switching units of the second domain.

Abstract: A system and method of determining the configuration of a network switching unit includes a network switching unit having one or more hardware processors. The one or more hardware processors are configured to execute code to cause the network switching unit to perform operations. The operations include detecting an inter-domain link aggregation group (LAG) associated with a first domain ID and receiving an inter-domain LAG detection message from a peer network switching unit. The inter-domain LAG detection message includes a second domain ID. In response to determining that the first domain ID and the second domain ID match, the network switching unit performs further operations including assigning a virtual link trunking (VLT) identifier to the inter-domain LAG, transmitting a VLT configuration message to the peer network switching unit, and forwarding network traffic to a first domain associated with the first domain ID using a VLT associated with the VLT identifier.

Abstract: In a packet switch with databases (250, 404) used for packet forwarding, the database pieces are identified by version identifiers (410V) which are used by the packet switch's modules (LCx, RPM0, RPM1) in exchanging information on the databases and requesting updates to the databases. For example, if a primary management module fails and the management is transferred to a secondary management module, the secondary management module requests forwarding modules (e.g. line cards) to identify the database pieces stored on the forwarding modules, and to update the databases as needed. Use of version identifiers reduces the amount of data that has to be transferred in connection with such requests.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes a plurality of forwarding processors, the plurality of forwarding processors each including a memory having a forwarding host table and a forwarding route table. The information handling system also includes at least one switching device coupled to the plurality of forwarding processors, the at least one switching device including a memory having a destination module and port table, a switching device host table and a switching device route table, wherein the at least one switching device is configured to perform an extended lookup in at least one of the switching device host table and switching device route table based on values included in a fabric header of information routed to the switching device to determine a destination of the information. A method for extending lookup tables is also provided that adds lookup tables in a switching device.

Abstract: An extended bridge structure that includes a controlling bridge and port extenders is disclosed. A port extender according to some embodiments of the present invention includes a processor that processes receives packets in a way that executes at least one procedure that substitutes for a function of the controlling bridge. A controlling bridge according to the present invention provides data to the port extender that enables it to execute the at least one procedure that substitutes for a function of the controlling bridge.

Abstract: A system and method includes a network device comprising a control unit, a first port coupled to the control unit and configured to couple the network device to a first device using a first network link. The control unit is configured to receive a data packet from the first device on the first port, inspect the data packet for an indicator of an incast communication pattern, and implement a data flow shaper on a network when the indicator is present in the data packet.

Abstract: A system and method of configuration of link aggregation groups includes a control unit and a port coupled to the control unit and configured to couple the network switching device to a neighboring switch. The control unit is configured to transmit a probe message to the neighboring switch, receive a remote switch identifier and link aggregation group (LAG) identifier from the neighboring switch, determine whether the remote switch identifier matches a previously received remote switch identifier and the remote LAG identifier matches a previously received remote LAG identifier. When both match, determine a first LAG associated with the previously received remote switch identifier and the previously received remote LAG identifier and assign the port to the first LAG. When both do not match, to create a second LAG, assign the port to the second LAG, and associate the remote switch identifier and the remote LAG identifier with the second LAG.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes a plurality of aggregation devices configured to distribute information in a virtual link trunk and a plurality of nodes coupled to the aggregation devices. When one of the plurality of aggregation devices received a reboot command, that aggregation device is configured to transmit a first message to the nodes indicating that the aggregation device is rebooting, receive a first acknowledgement message from the nodes indicating that they will not send any information to the rebooting aggregation device.

Abstract: A system and method for handling packets includes receiving the packets at a layer 3 handler in a network device, determining whether the packets are diagnostic packets by examining bit patterns of the packets, determining whether an application in the network device can handle the diagnostic packets when the packets are the diagnostic packets, delivering the diagnostic packets to the application for handling when the application in the network device can handle the diagnostic packets, receiving response packets from the application, and transmitting the response packets. In some embodiments, the bit patterns include a reserved bit of an IP header that is set to one when the packets are the diagnostic packets. In some embodiments, application packets and the diagnostic packets include a same source IP address, a same destination IP address, a same source port, and a same destination port.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes systems and methods for implementing a multi-chassis link aggregation group (MLAG) in a network. This may be achieved by connecting at least two switches to a plurality of servers, with at least one logical bridging device and at least one MLAG configured in between the network and the plurality of servers. The at least one logical bridging device may be associated with the at least one MLAG. The system may include at least one MLAG per logical bridging device, but may include more MLAGs than logical bridging devices.

Abstract: A switch IHS stacking system includes a plurality of switch IHSs. A least one first switch IHS includes a first processing system and at least one second switch IHS includes a second processing system that is different from the first processing system. A stacking engine is located on each of the plurality of switch IHSs. Following the coupling of the plurality of switch IHSs into a stack and in response to the startup of the plurality of switch IHSs, the each of the stacking engines may exchange capability information with each of the plurality of switch IHSs and determine a control plane processing system affinity and a data plane processing system affinity for each of the plurality of switch IHSs. The stacking engines may then determine a master switch IHS for the stack that has the highest control plane processing system affinity and data plane processing system affinity.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes systems and methods for providing an anycast MAC addressing capability to a network. The anycast MAC address may be provided by creating and using virtual routing bridges, which in the network topology appear in front of service-providing nodes associated with the anycast MAC address. The physical routing bridges that neighbor the virtual routing bridge in the network are configured so as to provide the routing bridge functions to the virtual routing bridge, including propagating network topology information representing the virtual routing bridge to the rest of the network.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes systems and methods for providing an anycast MAC addressing of a virtual redundancy router protocol instance that spans a plurality of aggregation switches. The anycast MAC address may be provided by a virtual bridging device and then used as an address of a virtual IP instance accessible through the virtual bridging device. Using the anycast MAC address with the virtual IP instance, a packet to be routed from one rack to another rack in a data center may be dynamically routed based a current load distribution.

Abstract: A system and method for management of a network link includes a switching device that includes a control unit and a port coupled to the control unit. The port couples the switching device to a partner switching device using a network link. The control unit is configured to receive a first packet over the network link from the partner switching device and determine whether the first packet includes a first traffic type state separation (TTSS) field. When the first packet includes the first TTSS field, the control unit is configured to determine a first network link state for the network link for a first traffic type and a second network link state for the network link for a second traffic type. Otherwise, the control unit is configured to determine a combined network link state for the network link that applies to both the first and the second traffic types.

Abstract: A system and method of determining the configuration of a network switching unit includes a network switching unit having one or more hardware processors. The one or more hardware processors are configured to execute code to cause the network switching unit to perform operations. The operations include detecting an inter-domain link aggregation group (LAG) associated with a first domain ID and receiving an inter-domain LAG detection message from a peer network switching unit. The inter-domain LAG detection message includes a second domain ID. In response to determining that the first domain ID and the second domain ID match, the network switching unit performs further operations including assigning a virtual link trunking (VLT) identifier to the inter-domain LAG, transmitting a VLT configuration message to the peer network switching unit, and forwarding network traffic to a first domain associated with the first domain ID using a VLT associated with the VLT identifier.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently handling layer 3 proxy routing after mobile devices move between subnets includes a controller and one or more ports coupled to the controller. The controller is configured to receive a gateway address request on the one or more ports, determine whether the gateway address request is received on an inter-domain link from a second gateway, determine whether the gateway address request is originated from the second gateway when the gateway address request is received on the inter-domain link, determine a layer 2 address of the second gateway when the gateway address request is not originated from the second gateway, form a gateway address response including the layer 2 address of the second gateway, and transmit the gateway address response on one of the one or more ports.

Abstract: A system and method of determining the configuration of a network switching unit includes receiving a configuration message on a network link. The network switching unit is associated with a first switch ID and belongs to a domain associated with a first domain ID. The system and method further includes identifying a second domain ID and a second switch ID based on at least information associated with the configuration message; determining whether the first domain ID and the second domain ID match; if the first domain ID and the second domain ID match, adding the network link to a first link aggregation group (LAG) associated with the second switch ID and designating the first LAG as part of an intra cluster link (ICL); and if the first domain ID and the second domain ID do not match, adding the network link to a second LAG associated with the second domain ID.

Abstract: A system and method for management of a network link includes a switching device that includes a control unit and a port coupled to the control unit. The port couples the switching device to a partner switching device using a network link. The control unit is configured to receive a first packet over the network link from the partner switching device and determine whether the first packet includes a first traffic type state separation (TTSS) field. When the first packet includes the first TTSS field, the control unit is configured to determine a first network link state for the network link for a first traffic type and a second network link state for the network link for a second traffic type. Otherwise, the control unit is configured to determine a combined network link state for the network link that applies to both the first and the second traffic types.

Abstract: A system and method of determining the configuration of a network switching unit includes receiving a configuration message on a network link. The network switching unit is associated with a first switch ID and belongs to a domain associated with a first domain ID. The system and method further includes identifying a second domain ID and a second switch ID based on at least information associated with the configuration message; determining whether the first domain ID and the second domain ID match; if the first domain ID and the second domain ID match, adding the network link to a first link aggregation group (LAG) associated with the second switch ID and designating the first LAG as part of an intra cluster link (ICL); and if the first domain ID and the second domain ID do not match, adding the network link to a second LAG associated with the second domain ID.