Scalable MAC address distribution in an Ethernet fabric switch

摘要

One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a notification mechanism. The notification mechanism constructs a single message that contains a locally learned MAC address associated with a local device, a TRILL RBridge identifier associated with the switch, and an identifier of an interface associated with the MAC address. In some embodiments, the switch includes a data structure and an entry management mechanism. The data structure stores device information learned at a remote switch, wherein the device information includes a MAC address of a device, a TRILL RBridge identifier associated with the remote switch, an identifier of an interface coupled to the device, and a type indicator of the MAC address. The entry management mechanism manages an entry in the data structure based on the RBridge identifier and the interface identifier.

主权项

1. A switch, comprising:
a notification module configured to construct a single message comprising forwarding information of a plurality of end devices learned from one or more local ports of the switch; wherein the forwarding information of a respective end device of the plurality of end devices includes a media access control (MAC) address learned from a port of the one or more local ports, a switch identifier of the switch, which is distinct from the MAC address, and an identifier of the port from which the MAC address has been learned.