Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a link aggregation module adapted to establish a virtual link aggregation group comprising a plurality of links coupling a network device to the switch and one or more other switches. The switch also includes an acknowledgment module adapted to identify an acknowledgment of a notification message from each of the one or more other switches, where the notification message includes port information associated with a local link participating in the virtual link aggregation group. The switch further includes a link selection module adapted to, in response to identifying the acknowledgment from each of the one or more other switches, determine a state for the local link based on the port information, where the state indicates whether the local link is an active link or a standby link for the virtual link aggregation group.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a link aggregation module and a link management module. The link aggregation module establishes a virtual link aggregation group comprising a plurality of links coupled to the switch and one or more other switches. The plurality of links includes a first and a second sets of links coupling a first and a second end devices, respectively. The link management module determines a current mode which indicates which of the sets of links is currently active, and operates the first and the second sets of links as active and standby links, respectively, for the virtual link aggregation group based on the current mode and a port role for a port participating in the virtual link aggregation group. The port role indicates whether the port is coupled to an active link or a backup link.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch which comprises one or more ports adapted to receive packets. The switch is a member of a network of interconnected switches, and also comprises a path monitoring apparatus adapted to: in response to a control packet associated with a session within a predetermined time interval, set a receive indicator for the switch to an active state; and in response to absence of the control packet associated with the session within the predetermined time interval, set the receive indicator for the switch to an inactive state. The path monitoring apparatus is also adapted to set a path state associated with the session based on the receive indicators for the switch and other member switches. The switch also comprises a broadcast apparatus adapted to broadcast at least the receive indicator for the switch to the other member switches.

Abstract: A switch can reduce power consumption in a switch network by disabling under-utilized links between switches. The switch can include one or more line cards each operable to transmit and receive packets over a respective link to a remote switch. The switch can also comprise a control mechanism operable to place under-utilized links in standby mode whenever possible to conserve power. During operation, the switch can receive a standby request for placing a first link to a neighboring switch in a standby mode, and determines whether one or more eligible links to the neighboring switch can accommodate traffic from the first link. If the eligible links are able to accommodate traffic from the first link, and if the local switch and the neighboring switch agree to place the first link in standby mode, the local switch proceeds to place the first link in standby mode.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a storage device, a mapping module, and a packet processor. During operation, the mapping module maintains a first and a second mappings. The first mapping, which can be in the storage device, is between a first service tunnel identifier and a first virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier. The second mapping is between the first VLAN identifier and an indicator, which indicates whether the switch is elected as a designated forwarder of multi-destination traffic for the first service tunnel identifier. If the indicator indicates that the switch is the designated forwarder of multi-destination traffic for the first service tunnel identifier, the packet processor determines an egress port, which corresponds to the first service tunnel, for a packet belonging to multi-destination traffic of the first VLAN.

Abstract: A switch can reduce power consumption in a switch network by disabling under-utilized links between switches. The switch can include one or more line cards each operable to transmit and receive packets over a respective link to a remote switch. The switch can also comprise a control mechanism operable to place under-utilized links in standby mode whenever possible to conserve power. During operation, the switch can receive a standby request for placing a first link to a neighboring switch in a standby mode, and determines whether one or more eligible links to the neighboring switch can accommodate traffic from the first link. If the eligible links are able to accommodate traffic from the first link, and if the local switch and the neighboring switch agree to place the first link in standby mode, the local switch proceeds to place the first link in standby mode.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch which comprises one or more ports adapted to receive packets. The switch is a member of a network of interconnected switches, and also comprises a path monitoring apparatus adapted to: in response to a control packet associated with a session within a predetermined time interval, set a receive indicator for the switch to an active state; and in response to absence of the control packet associated with the session within the predetermined time interval, set the receive indicator for the switch to an inactive state. The path monitoring apparatus is also adapted to set a path state associated with the session based on the receive indicators for the switch and other member switches. The switch also comprises a broadcast apparatus adapted to broadcast at least the receive indicator for the switch to the other member switches.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a link aggregation module adapted to establish a virtual link aggregation group comprising a plurality of links coupling a network device to the switch and one or more other switches. The switch also includes an acknowledgment module adapted to identify an acknowledgment of a notification message from each of the one or more other switches, where the notification message includes port information associated with a local link participating in the virtual link aggregation group. The switch further includes a link selection module adapted to, in response to identifying the acknowledgment from each of the one or more other switches, determine a state for the local link based on the port information, where the state indicates whether the local link is an active link or a standby link for the virtual link aggregation group.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a link aggregation module and a link management module. The link aggregation module establishes a virtual link aggregation group comprising a plurality of links coupled to the switch and one or more other switches. The plurality of links includes a first and a second sets of links coupling a first and a second end devices, respectively. The link management module determines a current mode which indicates which of the sets of links is currently active, and operates the first and the second sets of links as active and standby links, respectively, for the virtual link aggregation group based on the current mode and a port role for a port participating in the virtual link aggregation group. The port role indicates whether the port is coupled to an active link or a backup link.