Abstract: A method to provide a loop-free telecommunication network comprising end-users interconnected through one or more Metropolitan Area Network and/or Wide Area Network providing Virtual Private Local Area Network Service (VPLS) and possible geographically dispersed Layer-2 networks (K, L) is provided. To prevent the VPLS-networks from creating loops, a predetermined protocol, e.g. the Rapid Spanning Tree Protocolis used. Internal node ports of each node of a VPLS-network are grouped into a port arrangement in order to model a virtual LAN inside the VPLS-network. For each port arrangement, the sum of weight factors or port Path Cost towards a root bridge is calculated, the node having an external node port with the lowest port path cost is selected as the primary node, and the paths of the other external node ports towards the root bridge are disabled. In case two or more nodes of a VPLS-network have an identical port path cost, the node number or node ID for selecting the primary node is taken into account.

Abstract: A computer program product that runs via a processor system for generating and/or analyzing traffic signals for testing at least parts of integrated-circuit-environments designed to handle traffic signals are provided with generic modules and specific module to increase the re-usability. The specific modules are designed for interfacing the computer program product with a protocol used in the integrated-circuit-environment, such as an Internet-Protocol or an Asynchronous-Transfer-Mode-Protocol or an Ethernet-Protocol traffic protocol, or a flexbus4 or a SPI4.2 bus protocol. The processor system already present in the integrated-circuit-environment and comprising a host processor is used for interfacing with the computer program product, which saves additional hardware, with generated traffic signals flowing from the host processor to a buffer and from the buffer to at least one further circuit of the integrated-circuit-environment.

Abstract: Processor program products (1) to be run via a processor-system (80) for generating and/or analysing traffic signals for testing at least parts of integrated-circuit-environments (8) designed to handle traffic signals are provided with generic modules (2,3) and specific module (4,5) to increase the re-usability. Said specific modules (4,5) are designed for interfacing said computer program product (1) with a protocol used in said integrated-circuit-environment (8), like a traffic protocol like an Internet-Protocol or an Asynchronous-Transfer-Mode-Protocol or an Ethernet-Protocol, or like a bus protocol like a flexbus4 protocol or a SPI4.2 protocol.