Claims
- 1. In a device bridging data link layer protocols and network layer protocols, a method of resolving network addresses between network devices on a heterogeneous network, the method comprising:
gathering information from a control message concerning a first device in communication with a first data link; receiving packets from a second device in communication with a second data link, the first and second data links using different data link layer protocols; providing the gathered information to a third device, the third device in communication with the second device through the second data link; and transmitting the packets to the first device using the gathered information concerning the first device.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the control message is an address resolution message.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the gathered information is at least one of the first device's IP address, circuit information, a VC or VPN MPLS label, or the IP address for the second device associated with that label.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first data link is a gigabit Ethernet data link.
- 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the control message is an RDP message.
- 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first data link is a frame relay data link.
- 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the control message is an IARP message.
- 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first data link is a PPP data link.
- 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the control message is an IPCP message.
- 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first data link is an ATM data link.
- 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the control message is an INATMARP message.
- 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first data link is an HDLC data link.
- 13. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting the packets comprises prepending a header identifying the second device to a received packet.
- 14. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the gathered information comprises the transmission of an MP-BGP NLRI message to the third device.
- 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the NLRI message comprises an IP address sub-TLV.
- 16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving information concerning a fourth device from the third device; and providing the received information concerning the fourth device to the first device.
- 17. The method of claim 16 wherein providing the received information comprises responding to a control message.
- 18. The method of claim 16 wherein providing the received information comprises initiating a control message.
- 19. The method of claim 1 further comprising responding to the control message using a placeholder value.
- 20. A system that resolves network addresses between network devices on a heterogeneous network, the system comprising:
a first device bridging data link layer protocols and network layer protocols; a second device in communication with the first device using a first data link; a third device bridging data link layer protocols and network layer protocols; and a fourth device in communication with the third device using a second data link, the first and second data links using different data link layer protocols, wherein the first device gathers information concerning the second device from control messages sent by the second device.
- 21. The system of claim 20 wherein the control messages are address resolution messages.
- 22. The system of claim 20 wherein the first data link is a gigabit Ethernet data link.
- 23. The system of claim 20 wherein the first data link is a frame relay data link.
- 24. The system of claim 20 wherein the first data link is a PPP data link.
- 25. The system of claim 20 wherein the first data link is an ATM data link.
- 26. The system of claim 20 wherein the first data link is a HDLC data link.
- 27. The system of claim 20 wherein the first device provides the gathered information to the third device.
- 28. The system of claim 27 wherein the third device utilizes the information from the first device to route packets from the fourth device to the second device.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of the co-pending application having Attorney Docket No. TEN-008, filed herewith, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference as if set forth in its entirety herein.