Switching mesh with user-configurable paths

摘要

One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of configuring a traffic-associated path through a switching mesh. A source switch receives a request to associate a type of traffic to a specified path. The source switch is located at the beginning of the path. A path tag is allocated to the path. The path through the mesh is built, and the association between the type of traffic and the allocated path tag is programmed. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

主权项

1. A method of configuring a traffic-associated path through a switching mesh, the method comprising:
receiving by the source switch a request to associate a type of traffic to a specified path, wherein the specified path is designated for a type of traffic through the switching mesh and wherein the source switch is located at a beginning of the specified path; allocating a path tag to the specified path, wherein the source switch allocates the path tag to the specified path; building the specified path through the switching mesh, wherein the source switch builds the specified path; programming an association between the type of traffic and the path tag, wherein the path tag is to be applied to subsequent traffic of the type of traffic in the request received by the source switch; applying selection criteria to a packet received by the source switch to determine whether the packet comprises said type of traffic; determining whether the packets satisfy the selection criteria by determining whether the packets comprise packets of a specific virtual local area network; and assigning the path tag to packets which satisfy the selection criteria.