Abstract: A computer network includes a server computer having communication ports that are wired to switch ports of two separate network switches. The network switches receive link layer discovery protocol (LLDP) packets from other network devices, and automatically aggregate corresponding switch ports into a port channel aggregation based on the contents of the LLDP packets.

Abstract: A server management switch discovers and identifies its switch ports that are connected to communication ports of baseband management controllers (BMC's) of server computers. The server management switch isolates the identified BMC-connected switch ports such that network traffic on a BMC-connected switch port is restricted to a switch port that has a connection, either directly by a link or over a server management network, to a server management computer. Network traffic on BMC-connected switch ports are monitored and controlled in various ways to further protect the BMC's from security attacks.

Abstract: A computer network includes a server computer having communication ports that are wired to switch ports of two separate network switches. The network switches receive link aggregation control packets from the server computer, and automatically aggregate corresponding switch ports into a single logical port channel based on contents of the control packets.

Abstract: Various embodiments set forth a method for automatically configuring a multi-chassis link aggregation group (MLAG), including receiving first system information associated with the MLAG, receiving a first discovery packet via a first uplink port associated with a first switch that is included in the MLAG, where the first discovery packet includes second system information associated with the MLAG, determining whether the first system information matches the second system information, where if the first system information matches the second system information, then concluding that the first uplink port is included in an inter peer link connecting the first switch to a second switch that also is included in the MLAG, and if the first system information does not match the second system information, then concluding that the first uplink port is not included in the inter peer link. Advantageously, the method avoids requiring a user to enter hundreds of commands manually.

Abstract: A server management switch discovers and identifies its switch ports that are connected to communication ports of baseband management controllers (BMC's) of server computers. The server management switch isolates the identified BMC-connected switch ports such that network traffic on a BMC-connected switch port is restricted to a switch port that has a connection, either directly by a link or over a server management network, to a server management computer. Network traffic on BMC-connected switch ports are monitored and controlled in various ways to further protect the BMC's from security attacks.

Abstract: Various embodiments set forth a method for automatically configuring a multi-chassis link aggregation group (MLAG), including receiving first system information associated with the MLAG, receiving a first discovery packet via a first uplink port associated with a first switch that is included in the MLAG, where the first discovery packet includes second system information associated with the MLAG, determining whether the first system information matches the second system information, where if the first system information matches the second system information, then concluding that the first uplink port is included in an inter peer link connecting the first switch to a second switch that also is included in the MLAG, and if the first system information does not match the second system information, then concluding that the first uplink port is not included in the inter peer link. Advantageously, the method avoids requiring a user to enter hundreds of commands manually.

Abstract: Various embodiments set forth a method for automatically configuring a multi-chassis link aggregation group (MLAG), including receiving first system information associated with the MLAG, receiving a first discovery packet via a first uplink port associated with a first switch that is included in the MLAG, where the first discovery packet includes second system information associated with the MLAG, determining whether the first system information matches the second system information, where if the first system information matches the second system information, then concluding that the first uplink port is included in an inter peer link connecting the first switch to a second switch that also is included in the MLAG, and if the first system information does not match the second system information, then concluding that the first uplink port is not included in the inter peer link. Advantageously, the method avoids requiring a user to enter hundreds of commands manually.

Abstract: A computer network includes a server computer having communication ports that are wired to switch ports of two separate network switches. The network switches receive link layer discovery protocol (LLDP) packets from other network devices, and automatically aggregate corresponding switch ports into a port channel aggregation based on the contents of the LLDP packets.

Abstract: A computer network includes a server computer having communication ports that are wired to switch ports of two separate network switches. The network switches receive link aggregation control packets from the server computer, and automatically aggregate corresponding switch ports into a single logical port channel based on contents of the control packets.

Abstract: Various embodiments set forth a method for automatically configuring a multi-chassis link aggregation group (MLAG), including receiving first system information associated with the MLAG, receiving a first discovery packet via a first uplink port associated with a first switch that is included in the MLAG, where the first discovery packet includes second system information associated with the MLAG, determining whether the first system information matches the second system information, where if the first system information matches the second system information, then concluding that the first uplink port is included in an inter peer link connecting the first switch to a second switch that also is included in the MLAG, and if the first system information does not match the second system information, then concluding that the first uplink port is not included in the inter peer link. Advantageously, the method avoids requiring a user to enter hundreds of commands manually.

Abstract: Plural of switches are connected as switch stacking for easier management. Failures of stack member switches disrupts the stack and network availability. This invention discloses a method to maintain stacking connections in failed switches. This invention introduces a small circuit to monitor health of the switch and short circuit the stacking connections in case of switch failures.

Abstract: Plural of switches are connected as switch stacking for easier management. Failures of stack member switches disrupts the stack and network availability. This invention discloses a method to maintain stacking connections in failed switches. This invention introduces a small circuit to monitor health of the switch and short circuit the stacking connections in case of switch failures.

Abstract: Devices using communication protocols encode, decode, process and display protocol data units (PDUS) using PDU specific procedures. This invention discloses a generic method to encode, decode, process and display the PDUS. A generic codec library provides generic encode, decode, process and display procedures. These generic procedures understand the PDU specific formats using the coding rules of the PDUS. The coding rules for PDUS are generated by a compiler tool from PDU definitions. Compiler parses PDU definitions specified in formal notation and generates the coding rules. These coding rules contain the information about PDU fields including names of the fields, types of the fields and size of the fields. This generic method supports mandatory fields, optional fields and variable length fields. This generic library in addition to encode, decode, display also process the PDUS to validate against the expected values for specified fields.

Abstract: A method for handling file operations in switch stacking is described. Plurality of switches connected in switch stack is managed by master switch. When user configurations are stored in master switch also transferred to other stack members for redundancy. This invention discloses a method using a stack file module to handle the file update to remote stack members. The stack file module uses Remote Procedure Call (RPC) mechanism to access remote stack member file system. The stack file module also uses a buffering mechanism and error prediction mechanism for performance benefits. The stack file module also adjusts the size of the buffer based on the amount and frequency of data written to remote stack members.