MAC address synchronization in a fabric switch

摘要

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating synchronization of MAC addresses in a fabric switch. During operation, the system divides a number of media access control (MAC) addresses associated with devices coupled to an interface of the switch. The system then computes a checksum for a respective chunk of MAC addresses. In addition, the system broadcasts MAC address information of the chunk to facilitate MAC address synchronization in a fabric switch of which the switch is a member, and to manage the chunks and their corresponding checksum, thereby correcting an unsynchronized or race condition in the fabric switch.

主权项

1. A switch, comprising:
chunking circuitry configured to divide a number of media access control (MAC) addresses associated with devices coupled to an interface of the switch into a number of chunks, wherein a chunk includes a plurality of MAC addresses; checksum circuitry configured to compute a checksum for a respective chunk of MAC addresses; and MAC synchronization circuitry configured to:
construct a broadcast message comprising MAC address information of one or more chunks to facilitate MAC address synchronization in a network of interconnected switches, wherein the switch is a member of the network of interconnected switches;manage the chunks and their corresponding checksums, thereby correcting an unsynchronized or race condition in the network of interconnected switches.