Method for managing a logical topology change in a network

摘要

The present disclosure relates to managing a logical topology change in a network. The entries of the forwarding database are flushed intelligently without arbitrarily removing the forwarding database resulting in flooding. In one embodiment, a logical topology number (LTN) is maintained by all the interfaces and the forwarding database in the logical topology. In case of any change in the network topology, the LTN of the interfaces affected by the topology change is changed. Further, while sending a frame, LTN of the forwarding database entry for a destination address is compared with LTN of the logical topology. In case of mismatch, the entry is invalidated and the frame is flooded to all other ports for entering new entries into the database. LTN of the forwarding database entry for a source address is compared with the LTN of the logical topology.

主权项

1. A method for managing a logical topology change in a physical network, said network comprising a plurality of nodes having one or more interfaces associated with the logical topology and a Layer 2 Ethernet bridge forwarding database, said method comprising:
transmitting a frame from a client interface of a source node to a client interface of a destination node; maintaining a logical topology number (LTN) in every node of the logical topology; identifying a change in the logical topology in response to the step of transmitting; generating a topology change message to notify the plurality of nodes in the logical topology about the changes in the logical topology; changing the LTN associated with the logical topology of each interface of the logical topology affected by the change upon receipt of the topology change message; comparing the LTN associated with the logical topology with the LTN associated with the destination address in forwarding database of the node; invalidating all the entries relating to the destination node from the forwarding database, if there is a mismatch in the comparison; and performing one of:
broadcasting the frame on all the interfaces of the logical topology for making new entries into the forwarding database; ordropping the frame, for managing the logical topology change in the physical network.