METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR COMMUNICATIONS

Abstract

Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for communications involves establishing a tunnel connection between a switch of a network and a gateway of the network and in response to a communications device connecting to a network port of the switch, conducting data traffic involving the communications device through the tunnel connection between the switch and the gateway.

Description

Claims

1. A method for communications, the method comprising: establishing a tunnel connection between a switch of a network and a gateway of the network; andin response to a communications device connecting to a network port of the switch, conducting data traffic involving the communications device through the tunnel connection between the switch and the gateway.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising exchanging heartbeat information over the tunnel connection between the switch and the gateway.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to the communications device connecting to the network port of the switch, conducting data traffic involving the communications device through the tunnel connection comprises in response to the communications device connecting to the network port of the switch, conducting data traffic between the communications device and the gateway through the tunnel connection between the switch and the gateway.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data traffic carries Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to the communications device connecting to the network port of the switch, conducting data traffic involving the communications device through the tunnel connection comprises: at the switch, receiving a first Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) message from the communications device; andforwarding the first DHCP message to the gateway through the tunnel connection between the switch and the gateway.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first DHCP message comprises a DHCP discover message.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first DHCP message comprises a DHCP request message.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein in response to the communications device connecting to the network port of the switch, conducting data traffic involving the communications device through the tunnel connection further comprises: at the switch, receiving a second DHCP message from the gateway in response to the first DHCP message; andforwarding the second DHCP message to the communications device through the tunnel connection between the switch and the gateway.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising performing DHCP configuration at the switch based on the second DHCP message.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the second DHCP message comprises a DHCP offer message.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the second DHCP message comprises a DHCP acknowledgement (ACK) message.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the data traffic carries Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) information.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to the communications device connecting to the network port of the switch, conducting data traffic involving the communications device through the tunnel connection comprises: at the switch, receiving an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) request from the communications device; andforwarding the ARP request to the gateway through the tunnel connection between the switch and the gateway.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein in response to the communications device connecting to the network port of the switch, conducting data traffic involving the communications device through the tunnel connection further comprises: at the switch, receiving an ARP response from the gateway in response to the ARP request; andperforming ARP configuration at the switch based on the ARP response.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises an access switch (AS) of the network.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a distribution switch (DS) of the network.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications device comprises a wired communications device.

18. A method for communications, the method comprising: at a switch of a network, establishing a tunnel connection between the switch and a gateway of the network; andin response to a communications device connecting to a network port of the switch, conducting Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) traffic between the communications device and the gateway through the tunnel connection between the switch and the gateway.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein in response to the communications device connecting to the network port of the switch, conducting DHCP and ARP data traffic between the communications device and the gateway through the tunnel connection comprises: at the switch, receiving at least one DHCP or ARP message from the communications device; andfrom the switch, forwarding the at least one DHCP or ARP message to the gateway through the tunnel connection between the switch and the gateway.

20. A method for communications, the method comprising: at an access switch (AS) or a distribution switch (DS) of a network, establishing a Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) tunnel connection between the AS or the DS and a gateway of the network; andin response to a wired device connecting to a network port of the AS or the DS, conducting Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) traffic between the wired device and the gateway through the GRE tunnel connection between the AS or the DS and the gateway.