Abstract: A method, system and service for a data center computer network. A core network switches data using a first protocol layer. A first access switch is in electrical communication with the core network. The first access switch communicates the data to the core network using the first protocol layer. A second redundant access switch forms a first access switch pair with the first access switch. The second access switch is in electrical communication with the core network and communicates the data using the first protocol layer. The second access switch is in electrical communication with first access switch and communicates with the first access switch using a second protocol layer. The second protocol layer is at lower OSI level than the first protocol layer. The first access switch and the second access switch are configured to form a first VLAN. A first edge device is in electrical communication with the first access switch and the second access switch. The first edge device is part of the first VLAN.

Abstract: A method, system and program product for equitable sharing of a CAM (Content Addressable Memory) table among multiple users of a switch. The method includes reserving buffers in the table to be shared, the remaining buffers being allocated to each user. The method further includes establishing whether or not an address contained in a packet from a user is listed in a buffer in the table, if the address is listed, updating a time-to-live value for the buffer for forwarding the packet and, if the address is not listed, determining whether or not the user has exceeded its allocated buffers and whether or not the reserved buffers have been exhausted, such that, if the user has exceeded its allocated buffers and the reserved buffers have been exhausted, the address is not added to the table and the user is precluded from using any additional buffers in the network switch.

Abstract: A method, system and service for a data center computer network. A core network switches data using a first protocol layer. A first access switch is in electrical communication with the core network. The first access switch communicates the data to the core network using the first protocol layer. A second redundant access switch forms a first access switch pair with the first access switch. The second access switch is in electrical communication with the core network and communicates the data using the first protocol layer. The second access switch is in electrical communication with first access switch and communicates with the first access switch using a second protocol layer. The second protocol layer is at lower OSI level than the first protocol layer. The first access switch and the second access switch are configured to form a first VLAN. A first edge device is in electrical communication with the first access switch and the second access switch. The first edge device is part of the first VLAN.

Abstract: A method, system and program product for equitable sharing of a CAM (Content Addressable Memory) table among multiple users of a switch. The method includes reserving buffers in the table to be shared, the remaining buffers being allocated to each user. The method further includes establishing whether or not an address contained in a packet from a user is listed in a buffer in the table, if the address is listed, updating a time-to-live value for the buffer for forwarding the packet and, if the address is not listed, determining whether or not the user has exceeded its allocated buffers and whether or not the reserved buffers have been exhausted, such that, if the user has exceeded its allocated buffers and the reserved buffers have been exhausted, the address is not added to the table and the user is precluded from using any additional buffers in the network switch.

Abstract: A topology manager external to a communications network manages the network and in particular resolves conflicting topology information about the network by dividing the management of the topology data base into two operations--a collection instance and a resolution layer. A collection instance collects all information that its agent node has about the topology of the network. This topology information is processed by the collection instance to determine for each resource in the network whether the resource is new, reachable or has experienced a reachability change. The resolution layer receives the topology resource information from each collection instance. When a resource is indicated as reachable by a collection instance, that resource is placed on a Reach list as an entry from that collection instance.