GLOBAL VLAN SERVICES

摘要

One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch in a network of interconnected switches. The switch includes a forwarding domain apparatus and a forwarding apparatus. The forwarding domain apparatus maintains a mapping between a first virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier and a first global VLAN identifier in a local storage device. The global VLAN identifier represents a layer-2 forwarding domain in the network and is distinct from a customer VLAN or a service-provider VLAN. The mapping is independent of a type of the VLAN identifier. During operation, the forwarding apparatus encapsulates a first packet belonging to the first VLAN in a network encapsulation header. The encapsulated packet is forwardable in the network based on the network encapsulation header. The forwarding apparatus includes the first global VLAN identifier in the network encapsulation header of the first packet.

主权项

1. A switch in a network of interconnected switches, wherein the switch comprises:
a forwarding domain apparatus configured to maintain a mapping between a first virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier and a first global VLAN identifier in a local storage device, wherein the global VLAN identifier represents a layer-2 forwarding domain in the network and is distinct from a customer VLAN or a service-provider VLAN, and wherein the mapping is independent of a type of the VLAN identifier; and a forwarding apparatus configured to:
encapsulate a first packet belonging to the first VLAN in a network encapsulation header, wherein the encapsulated packet is forwardable in the network based on the network encapsulation header; andinclude the first global VLAN identifier in the network encapsulation header of the first packet.