419 results about "Spanning tree" patented technology

A method and human-machine interface for backbone Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) provisioning in bridged networking environments are provided. The method includes steps of provisioning backbone VLAN support on every backbone data transport trunk and by extension of every stackable data trunk port in the associated data transport network. The human-machine interface enables an operator to expediently effect VLAN provisioning abstracting the intricacies of the data transport network over which VLAN services are provisioned. Advantages are derived from backbone VLAN provisioning independent of an underlying in-use active spanning-tree topology. In particular backbone VLANs are provisioned over spanning-tree stand-by designated backbone data transport trunk links and therefore preprovisioned in the case of spanning-tree re-configuration. Customer VLANs are mapped onto backbone VLANs ensuring data traffic differentiation, and providing standard VLAN identifier portability. Operator VLAN provisioning tasks are lessened via provisions for the selection of all backbone / stackable data transport trunk links / ports in the data transport network in effecting VLAN identifier associations therebetween.

Communication apparatus includes a hierarchical network of switches, which includes at least a first plurality of spine switches, interconnected by a control channel, and a second plurality of edge switches having internal ports coupled to communicate via respective links with the spine switches and external ports for connecting to client devices. The spine switches are configured to detect, via the control channel, a partitioning of the hierarchical network into first and second partitions, including respective first and second numbers of the spine switches, wherein the first number is greater than the second number, and to assign respective priorities to the spine switches responsively to the first and second numbers so as to cause the larger of the partitions to be elected as a spanning tree root.

A network is partitioned into a set of independent partitions, and the topology of each partition is determined, then merged to form a topology of the entire network. Preferably, the partitioning is hierarchical, wherein the network is partitioned to form individual VLAN partitions, and each of the VLAN partitions is further partitioned based on the nodes that are simply connected to each port of one or more selected root switches within the VLAN partition. Simple connections to each port are efficiently determined based on an aggregate address forwarding table associated with each node. Ancillary information, such as spanning tree or CDP data, may be used to facilitate efficient partitioning and / or to validate inferences that are made with incomplete information.