Redundant host connection in a routed network

摘要

One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a management mechanism and a configuration mechanism. During operation, the management mechanism is configured to operate the switch in conjunction with the partner switch as a single logical switch. The configuration mechanism is configured to assign a virtual switch identifier to the logical switch.

主权项

1. A first switch, comprising:
a processing circuitry; a memory coupled to the processing circuitry and storing instructions which when executed cause the processing circuitry to:
form a single logical switch with a second switch, wherein the logical switch is assigned a virtual switch identifier, and wherein the first and the second switches are both allowed to forward frames destined to an end station coupled to the first and second switches via local output ports concurrently, thereby facilitating load balancing; andmark an ingress-switch field of a frame received from the end station with the virtual switch identifier.