Name services for virtual cluster switching

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch that facilitates name services in a virtual cluster switch. The switch includes a name service database indicating at least one media access control (MAC) address learned at a second switch. The switch also includes a control mechanism. During operation, the control mechanism distributes information on a locally learned MAC address to the second switch. In addition, the control mechanism receives information on a MAC address learned at the second switch.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A first switch, comprising:
 a processor; 
 memory; 
 one or more local ports of the switch; and 
 a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed by the processor causes the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
 extracting from a message information associated with a media access control (MAC) address learned at a port of a second switch, wherein the first and second switches are member switches of a fabric switch; 
 storing the extracted information associated with the MAC address in association with an identifier of the second switch in a name service database in the memory of the switch, wherein the identifier of the second switch uniquely identifies the second switch in the fabric switch; and 
 constructing a message for distributing to the second switch information associated with a MAC address learned at a said local port. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The first switch of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the fabric switch is an Ethernet fabric switch comprising one or more physical switches; and 
 wherein the Ethernet fabric switch operates as one single Ethernet switch. 
 
     
     
       3. The first switch of  claim 1 , wherein the message constructed for distributing to the second switch is a Fibre Channel registered state change notification (RSCN) encapsulated in a transparent interconnection of lots of links (TRILL) header. 
     
     
       4. The first switch of  claim 1 , wherein the message constructed for distributing to the second switch includes the MAC address and an identifier of the first switch, wherein the identifier of the first switch uniquely identifies the first switch in the fabric switch. 
     
     
       5. The first switch of  claim 4 , wherein the message constructed for distributing to the second switch further includes:
 an identifier of the local port from which the MAC address is learned; and 
 a virtual local area network (VLAN) tag associated with the learned MAC address. 
 
     
     
       6. The first switch of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises constructing an update message destined for the second switch in response to a failure to a link or port within a multi-chassis trunk. 
     
     
       7. The first switch of  claim 6 , wherein the update message indicates that an end host previously coupled via the multi-chassis trunk is now coupled with a physical switch. 
     
     
       8. A switching system, comprising:
 a plurality of member switches; 
 memory in a first member switch of the plurality of member switches; 
 one or more local ports in the first member switch; and 
 a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium residing in the first member switch and storing instructions which when executed by a processor in first member switch causes the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
 extracting from payload of a message information associated with a media access control (MAC) address learned at a port of a second member switch of the plurality of member switches; 
 storing the extracted information associated with the MAC address in association with an identifier of the second member switch in a name service database in the memory of the first member switch, wherein the identifier of the second member switch uniquely identifies the second member switch in the switching system; and 
 constructing a message for distributing to the second member switch information associated with a MAC address learned at a said local port of the first member switch. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The switching system of  claim 8 , wherein the switching system is an Ethernet fabric switch comprising one or more physical switches; and
 wherein the Ethernet fabric switch operates as one single Ethernet switch. 
 
     
     
       10. The switching system of  claim 8 , wherein the message constructed for distributing to the second member switch is a Fibre Channel registered state change notification (RSCN) encapsulated in a transparent interconnection of lots of links (TRILL) header. 
     
     
       11. The switching system of  claim 8 , wherein the message constructed for distributing to the second member switch includes the MAC address and an identifier of the first member switch, wherein the identifier of the first member switch uniquely identifies the first member switch in the switching system. 
     
     
       12. The switching system of  claim 11 , wherein message constructed for distributing to the second member switch further includes:
 an identifier of the local port of the first member switch from which the MAC address is learned; and 
 a virtual local area network (VLAN) tag associated with the MAC address. 
 
     
     
       13. The switching system of  claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises constructing an update message destined for the second member switch in response to a failure to a link or port within a multi-chassis trunk. 
     
     
       14. The switching system of  claim 13 , wherein the update message indicates that an end host previously coupled via the multi-chassis trunk is now coupled with a physical switch. 
     
     
       15. A method, comprising:
 extracting, by a first switch, from payload of a message information associated with a media access control (MAC) address learned at a port of a second switch, wherein the first and second switches are member switches of a fabric switch; 
 storing the extracted information associated with the MAC address in association with an identifier of the second switch in a name service database in memory of the first switch, wherein the identifier of the second switch uniquely identifies the second switch in the fabric switch; and 
 constructing a message for distributing to the second switch through a local port of the first switch information associated with a MAC address learned at a local port of the first switch. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fabric switch is an Ethernet fabric switch comprising one or more physical switches; and
 wherein the Ethernet fabric switch operates as one single Ethernet switch. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the message constructed for distributing to the second switch is a Fibre Channel registered state change notification (RSCN) encapsulated in a transparent interconnection of lots of links (TRILL) header. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein message constructed for distributing to the second switch includes the MAC address and an identifier of the first switch, wherein the identifier of the first switch uniquely identifies the first switch in the fabric switch. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the message constructed for distributing to the second switch further includes:
 an identifier of a the local port of the first switch from which the MAC address is learned; and 
 a virtual local area network (VLAN) tag associated with the MAC address. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising constructing an update message destined for the second switch in response to a failure to a link or port within a multi-chassis trunk fails. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the update message indicates that an end host previously coupled via the multi-chassis trunk is now coupled with a physical switch. 
     
     
       22. A first switch means, comprising:
 a control means for:
 extracting from payload of a message information associated with a media access control (MAC) address learned at a port of a second switch means, wherein the first and second switch means are members of a fabric switch means; 
 storing the extracted information associated with the MAC address in association with an identifier of the second switch means in a name service database, wherein the identifier of the second switch means uniquely identifies the second switch means in the fabric switch means; and 
 constructing a message for distributing to the second switch means information associated with a MAC address learned at a local port.