Abstract: A method and system for processing a packet is disclosed. The method includes identifying the packet as a generic bridge packet tunneling (GBPT) packet, and performing GBPT processing on the packet at a network node, if the packet is a GBPT packet.

Abstract: A method of testing a primary device for two-way communication between the primary device and one or more other devices in communication therewith in a network is disclosed. The method includes inserting into an echo packet an originating device identifier in an originating device field and a primary device identifier in a primary device field, and transmitting the echo packet from the primary device. Two-way communication is detected if a reply packet received at the primary device contains the originating device identifier in the originating device field and the primary device identifier in the primary device field. A system for testing a primary device for two-way communication between the primary device and neighbor devices coupled to the primary device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus allows for continued operation of one or more applications running at a network device with reduced delay despite crashes or failures at that device. The network device includes two or more supervisor cards for running the applications and a plurality of line cards. According to the invention, one supervisor card is designated the active supervisor card and one supervisor card is designated the standby supervisor card. As changes in state and other operating conditions take place on the active supervisor events are generating for passing at least some of this information to the standby supervisor where it is stored. Following a crash or failure of the active supervisor card, the standby becomes the newly active supervisor card. The standby supervisor performs a consistency check with the line cards and resets those that fail the check.

Abstract: A method of testing a primary device for two-way communication between the primary device and one or more other devices in communication therewith in a network is disclosed. The method includes inserting into an echo packet an originating device identifier in an originating device field and a primary device identifier in a primary device field, and transmitting the echo packet from the primary device. Two-way communication is detected if a reply packet received at the primary device contains the originating device identifier in the originating device field and the primary device identifier in the primary device field. A system for testing a primary device for two-way communication between the primary device and neighbor devices coupled to the primary device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of testing a primary device for two-way communication between the primary device and one or more other devices in communication therewith in a network. The method may include receiving a packet containing an originating device identifier at the primary device; adding a primary device identifier to the packet; transmitting the packet containing the originating device identifier and the primary device identifier from the primary device; and receiving a reply packet and detecting two-way communication if the reply packet contains the originating device identifier and the primary device identifier. A system for testing a primary device for two-way communication between the primary device and the other devices coupled to the primary device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A dynamic trunk protocol enables dynamic negotiation of trunk encapsulation types between ports connecting intermediate stations in a computer network. The stations are preferably interconnected by a point-to-point link. Negotiation between a local port and a neighbor port of the switches results in synchronization of the port configurations to a common trunk encapsulation type, such as an Interswitch Link (ISL), IEEE 802.1Q or non-trunk port configuration.