VLAN fabric network

Abstract

A switch encapsulates incoming information using a header, and removes the header upon egress. The header is used by both distributed ingress nodes and within a distributed core to facilitate switching. The ingress and egress elements preferably support Ethernet or other protocol providing connectionless media with a stateful connection. Preferred switches include management protocols for discovering which elements are connected, for constructing appropriate connection tables, for designating a master element, and for resolving failures and off-line conditions among the switches. Secure data protocol (SDP), port to port (PTP) protocol, and active/active protection service (AAPS) are all preferably implemented. Systems and methods contemplated herein can advantageously use Strict Ring Topology (SRT), and conf configure the topology automatically. Components of a distributed switching fabric can be geographically separated by at least one kilometer, and in some cases by over 150 kilometers.

1 - 34 . (canceled)  
     
     
         35 . A VLAN fabric network having first and second VLAN elements, each of which contains all addressing tables necessary to operate as if it controls the VLAN.  
     
     
         36 . The VLAN fabric network of  claim 35  wherein at least one of the addressing tables contains MAC addresses of at least one other VLAN element.  
     
     
         37 . The VLAN fabric network of  claim 35  wherein each of the first and second VLAN elements contain a MAC address table that includes an address of a third VLAN element of the network.  
     
     
         38 . The VLAN fabric network of  claim 35  wherein the VLAN comprises a geographically distributed subnet.  
     
     
         39 . The VLAN fabric network of  claim 35  wherein each of the VLAN elements runs a management discovery protocol.  
     
     
         40 . The VLAN fabric network of  claim 35  wherein each of the VLAN elements runs a protocol that determines whether a particular link to an element is not in service.  
     
     
         41 . The VLAN fabric network of  claim 35  wherein each of the VLAN elements runs a traffic load protocol.  
     
     
         42 . The VLAN fabric network of  claim 35  wherein each of the VLAN elements runs a secure data protocol.  
     
     
         43 . The VLAN fabric network of  claim 35  wherein first and second elements are mapped together in a logical cluster, and addressed by including destination and source cluster IDs in switching headers.