Abstract: An aggregated BIER networking system includes first and second aggregated BFER devices that are each directly connected to first and second receiver devices. The first aggregated BFER device receives a request from the first receiver device for multicast data packets generated by a source device and transmits the request to a BFIR device. The first aggregated BFER device also receives an identification from the second aggregated BFER device of the second receiver device that has requested multicast data packets generated by the source device. The first aggregated BFER device advertises a virtual BFER device that appears to be directly connected to each of the first and second aggregated BFER devices, and each of the first and second receiver devices. The first aggregated BFER device then receives a multicast data packet identifying the virtual BFER device, and forwards the multicast data packet to each of the first and second receiver devices.

Abstract: An aggregated switch PBR system includes aggregated switches coupled together by an ICL and to a first core switch by a first LAG. A first aggregated switch includes a first link in the first LAG, and a second link to a second core switch. The first aggregated switch provides a first PBR entry in its PBR table that redirects packets initially provided for forwarding via the second link to the second core switch such that those packets are forwarded via the first link to the first core switch. When the first link becomes unavailable, the first aggregated switch provides a second PBR entry in its PBR table that redirects the packets initially provided for forwarding via the second link to the second core switch such that those packets are forwarded via the ICL to the second aggregated switch for transmission via the first LAG to the first core switch.

Abstract: A networking aggregation link provisioning system includes a second aggregated networking device that is configured to provide a second portion of a link aggregation to a connected device, and a first aggregated networking device that is configured to provide a first portion of the link aggregation to the connected device. The first aggregated networking device establishes an inter-aggregated-networking-device link with the second aggregated networking device and, in response, synchronizes first aggregated networking device process(es) running in the first aggregated networking device with respective corresponding second aggregated networking device process(es) running in the second aggregated networking device.

Abstract: An aggregated BIER networking system includes first and second aggregated BFER devices that are each directly connected to first and second receiver devices. The first aggregated BFER device receives a request from the first receiver device for multicast data packets generated by a source device and transmits the request to a BFIR device. The first aggregated BFER device also receives an identification from the second aggregated BFER device of the second receiver device that has requested multicast data packets generated by the source device. The first aggregated BFER device advertises a virtual BFER device that appears to be directly connected to each of the first and second aggregated BFER devices, and each of the first and second receiver devices. The first aggregated BFER device then receives a multicast data packet identifying the virtual BFER device, and forwards the multicast data packet to each of the first and second receiver devices.

Abstract: An aggregated switch PBR system includes aggregated switches coupled together by an ICL and to a first core switch by a first LAG. A first aggregated switch includes a first link in the first LAG, and a second link to a second core switch. The first aggregated switch provides a first PBR entry in its PBR table that redirects packets initially provided for forwarding via the second link to the second core switch such that those packets are forwarded via the first link to the first core switch. When the first link becomes unavailable, the first aggregated switch provides a second PBR entry in its PBR table that redirects the packets initially provided for forwarding via the second link to the second core switch such that those packets are forwarded via the ICL to the second aggregated switch for transmission via the first LAG to the first core switch.

Abstract: An aggregated switch path optimization system includes first and second switch devices. An aggregated third switch device is coupled to the first switch device, the second switch device, and an aggregated fourth switch device. The aggregated third switch device forwards those packets from the first switch device via one of: an ICL to the aggregated fourth switch device, and a link to the second switch device. The aggregated third switch device then monitors a usage of the ICL and the availability of the link to the second switch device. In response to the usage of the ICL exceeding a threshold usage level, or an unavailability of the link to the second switch device, the aggregated third switch device transmits a packet redirection message to the first switch device that causes it to redirect packets away from the aggregated third switch device and towards the aggregated fourth switch device.

Abstract: A networking aggregation link provisioning system includes a second aggregated networking device that is configured to provide a second portion of a link aggregation to a connected device, and a first aggregated networking device that is configured to provide a first portion of the link aggregation to the connected device. The first aggregated networking device establishes an inter-aggregated-networking-device link with the second aggregated networking device and, in response, synchronizes first aggregated networking device process(es) running in the first aggregated networking device with respective corresponding second aggregated networking device process(es) running in the second aggregated networking device.

Abstract: An aggregated switch path optimization system includes first and second switch devices. An aggregated third switch device is coupled to the first switch device, the second switch device, and an aggregated fourth switch device. The aggregated third switch device forwards those packets from the first switch device via one of: an ICL to the aggregated fourth switch device, and a link to the second switch device. The aggregated third switch device then monitors a usage of the ICL and the availability of the link to the second switch device. In response to the usage of the ICL exceeding a threshold usage level, or an unavailability of the link to the second switch device, the aggregated third switch device transmits a packet redirection message to the first switch device that causes it to redirect packets away from the aggregated third switch device and towards the aggregated fourth switch device.

Abstract: A first information handling system may detect a VRRP configuration of the first information handling system and a peer information handling system, along with a VLT connection between the first information handling system and the peer information handling system. VLT control information may be used by the first information handling system to designate the first information handling system as a VRRP master node. The first information handling system may then control VRRP operation of the first information handling system and the peer information handling system based, at least in part, on the designation of the first information handling system as the VRRP master node.

Abstract: A first information handling system may detect a VRRP configuration of the first information handling system and a peer information handling system, along with a VLT connection between the first information handling system and the peer information handling system. VLT control information may be used by the first information handling system to designate the first information handling system as a VRRP master node. The first information handling system may then control VRRP operation of the first information handling system and the peer information handling system based, at least in part, on the designation of the first information handling system as the VRRP master node.

Abstract: An inter-datacenter multicast system includes a first datacenter connected to a second datacenter. A first multicast router device is located in the first datacenter and includes at least one first multicast router interface that provides a link to the second datacenter, and a second multicast router device is located in the second datacenter and includes at least one second multicast router interface that provides a link to the first datacenter. The first multicast router device and the second multicast router device sync multicast routes with each other to enable each to act as respective designated routers, and also each remove multicast router interfaces that provides links to the other datacenter from outgoing interface Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) that are part of a multicast route, which prevents traffic tromboning and reduces multicast data communications between the first datacenter and the second datacenter.

Abstract: An Inter-Chassis Link (ICL) failure management system includes a first switch device and a second switch device coupled together by an Inter-Chassis Link (ICL) that is included in a control network and that is configured to provide a primary control channel for transmitting control information between the first switch device and the second switch device. A third switch device is coupled to each of the first switch device and the second switch device by a first aggregated link. When the first switch device determines that the ICL is unavailable, it causes a first port and a second port that provide the first aggregated link to be added to the control network to provide a primary backup control channel. The first switch device may then send control information to the second switch device through the primary backup control channel via the first port and the second port.

Abstract: An inter-datacenter multicast system includes a first datacenter connected to a second datacenter. A first multicast router device is located in the first datacenter and includes at least one first multicast router interface that provides a link to the second datacenter, and a second multicast router device is located in the second datacenter and includes at least one second multicast router interface that provides a link to the first datacenter. The first multicast router device and the second multicast router device sync multicast routes with each other to enable each to act as respective designated routers, and also each remove multicast router interfaces that provides links to the other datacenter from outgoing interface Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) that are part of a multicast route, which prevents traffic tromboning and reduces multicast data communications between the first datacenter and the second datacenter.

Abstract: An Inter-Chassis Link (ICL) failure management system includes a first switch device and a second switch device coupled together by an Inter-Chassis Link (ICL) that is included in a control network and that is configured to provide a primary control channel for transmitting control information between the first switch device and the second switch device. A third switch device is coupled to each of the first switch device and the second switch device by a first aggregated link. When the first switch device determines that the ICL is unavailable, it causes a first port and a second port that provide the first aggregated link to be added to the control network to provide a primary backup control channel. The first switch device may then send control information to the second switch device through the primary backup control channel via the first port and the second port.

Abstract: A spanning tree enabled n-node VLT system includes the STP running on VLT node devices that include a first VLT node device coupled to a networking device by a LAG and designated as a root bridge via the STP. A second VLT node device coupled to the networking device is part of the LAG. ICLs couple the second VLT node device to the first VLT node device. An enhanced STP engine running on the each of the VLT node devices determines that the STP has designated a first port providing one of the ICLs as a first root port, and a second port providing one of the ICLs as an alternate port. In response, the enhanced STP engine redesignates the second port as a second root port.

Abstract: A loop prevention system includes a first networking node that includes a first direct link that connects the first networking node to a loop configuration that includes plurality of networking node devices, and a second direct link that connects the first networking node to the loop configuration. The first networking node receives, through the first direct link, first network traffic that entered the loop configuration at a second networking node in the loop configuration. The first networking node then blocks the first network traffic through the second direct link based on a first forwarding rule for network traffic that enters the loop configuration at the second networking node and that is received by the first networking node device. The first networking node also receives, through the second direct link, second network traffic that entered the loop configuration at a third networking node in the loop configuration.

Abstract: A method, an information handling system (IHS), and a virtual link trunking (VLT) system for determining VLT ports to block and unblock in an IHS. The method includes calculating a forwarding table index for a local switch of currently active and inactive switch peers for a VLT port. A pre-determined forwarding table is retrieved from a memory containing a plurality of port blocking and unblocking actions for the switch peers. Current port blocking and unblocking actions are identified in the pre-determined forwarding table corresponding to the forwarding table index. Changes are determined between the previous port blocking and unblocking actions and the current port blocking and unblocking actions. The input/output (I/O) ports are configured for the local switch based on the determined changes in the port blocking and unblocking actions.

Abstract: A LAG access node determination system includes directly-linked networking node devices are each directly linked to a networking switch device by respective links that are aggregated in a multi-chassis LAG provided by the networking switch device. An indirectly-linked networking node device is coupled between the directly-linked networking node devices and is not directly linked to the networking switch device. The indirectly-linked networking node device receives a first packet that includes a destination that is reachable through the multi-chassis LAG provided by the networking switch device, determines a first directly-linked networking node device of the plurality of directly-linked networking node devices that is coupled to the indirectly-linked networking node device by a first shortest path, and provides the first packet along the first shortest path to the first directly-linked networking node device in order to forward the first packet through the multi-chassis LAG.

Abstract: A spanning tree enabled n-node VLT system includes the STP running on VLT node devices that include a first VLT node device coupled to a networking device by a LAG and designated as a root bridge via the STP. A second VLT node device coupled to the networking device is part of the LAG. ICLs couple the second VLT node device to the first VLT node device. An enhanced STP engine running on the each of the VLT node devices determines that the STP has designated a first port providing one of the ICLs as a first root port, and a second port providing one of the ICLs as an alternate port. In response, the enhanced STP engine redesignates the second port as a second root port.

Abstract: A loop prevention system includes a first networking node that includes a first direct link that connects the first networking node to a loop configuration that includes plurality of networking node devices, and a second direct link that connects the first networking node to the loop configuration. The first networking node receives, through the first direct link, first network traffic that entered the loop configuration at a second networking node in the loop configuration. The first networking node then blocks the first network traffic through the second direct link based on a first forwarding rule for network traffic that enters the loop configuration at the second networking node and that is received by the first networking node device. The first networking node also receives, through the second direct link, second network traffic that entered the loop configuration at a third networking node in the loop configuration.