Virtual root bridge

Abstract

A network includes a plurality of network clusters. Each network cluster includes a plurality of nodes. At least one of the plurality of nodes includes a portal node. A portal node is a node with at least one link that crosses a boundary of the network cluster. Each portal node is configured to communicate detection packets for detecting the existence of other portal nodes within the network cluster. Each portal node is configured to communicate with nodes within the network cluster associated with the respective portal node to indicate that the respective portal node is a predetermined number of hops away from a virtual root bridge associated with the network cluster.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used to designate like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an ad hoc wireless mesh network in which client devices form the mesh.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an infrastructure mesh network that includes Access Points and client devices, and communicates with external networks using a network connection node.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating network, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a Virtual Root Bridge Protocol frame, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating steps for networking, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A network, comprising: a plurality of network clusters, wherein each network cluster includes: a plurality of nodes, wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes comprises a portal node,wherein a portal node comprises a node with at least one link that crosses a boundary of the network cluster,wherein each portal node is configured to communicate detection packets for detecting an existence of other portal nodes within the network cluster, andwherein each portal node is configured to communicate with nodes within the network cluster associated with the respective portal node to indicate that the respective portal node is a predetermined number of hops away from a virtual root bridge associated with the network cluster.

2. The network of claim 1, wherein the network cluster comprises at least two portal nodes, and wherein each of the at least two portal nodes comprises at least one link with a second network cluster.

3. The network of claim 1, wherein when the portal node comprises at least two links that cross the boundary of the network cluster, the portal node is configured to select one of the at least two links as an active link for communicating detection packets.

4. The network of claim 1, wherein nodes within the network cluster other than the portal nodes are configured to utilize Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP), and wherein the RSTP is not utilized by each portal node for the at least one link.

5. The network of claim 1, wherein each portal node is configured to communicate detection packets on each interface of the portal node that is not part of the network cluster to which the portal node belongs.

6. The network of claim 1, wherein each portal node is configured to discard information packets received via the at least one link when the information packets do not comprise detection packets.

7. The network of claim 1, wherein the detection packet comprises a Virtual Root Bridge Protocol (VRBP) frame.

8. The network of claim 7, wherein nodes other than the portal nodes are configured to process the VRBP frames as one of broadcast and multicast packets.

9. The network of claim 7, wherein the VRBP frame comprises: frame identity information configured to identify the detection packet as the VRBP frame; andnetwork cluster identity information configured to identify the network cluster of the portal node transmitting the VRBP frame, wherein the portal node receiving the VRBP frame utilizes the network cluster identity information to determine whether the VRBP frame corresponds to the network cluster to which the portal node receiving the VRBP frame belongs.

10. The network of claim 9, wherein network cluster identity information is configured to identify a RSTP instance of the portal node transmitting the VRBP frame.

11. The network of claim 7, wherein the VRBP frame comprises: version information configured to identify a version of the VRBP.

12. The network of claim 11, wherein the version information comprises a major version number and a minor version number.

13. The network of claim 12, wherein the portal node receiving the VRBP frame is configured to discard the VRBP frame when the major version number contained in the VRBP frame does not match the major version number of the VRBP utilized by the portal node receiving the VRBP frame.

14. The network of claim 7, wherein the VRBP frame comprises: virtual root bridge parameter information configured to specify virtual root bridge parameters associated with the portal node transmitting the VRBP frame.

15. The network of claim 14, wherein the VRBP frame comprises: address information configured to identify an interface on the portal node transmitting the VRBP frame.

16. The network of claim 15, wherein the portal nodes within a network cluster are configured to mutually agree upon the virtual root bridge parameters to be used by the portal nodes within the network cluster.

17. The network of claim 16, wherein the virtual root bridge parameters contained in the VRBP frame having a lowest value of the address information are used by the portal nodes within the network cluster.

18. The network of claim 7, wherein the VRBP frame comprises: time length information configured to specify a length of time between transmission of VRBP frames.

19. The network of claim 1, wherein each network cluster comprises a Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) instance.

20. The network of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a mesh network.

21. The network of claim 20, wherein the mesh network comprises a wireless mesh network.

22. A method of networking, comprising the steps of: a.) arranging a plurality of network clusters,wherein each network cluster includes a plurality of nodes,wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes comprises a portal node, andwherein a portal node comprises a node with at least one link that crosses a boundary of the network cluster;b.) communicating detection packets from each portal node to detect an existence of other portal nodes within the network cluster; andc.) communicating from each portal node to nodes within the network cluster associated with the respective portal node to indicate that the respective portal node is a predetermined number of hops away from a virtual root bridge associated with the network cluster.

23. The method of claim 22, comprising the step of: d.) selecting one of at least two links as an active link for communicating detection packets, when the portal node includes at least two links that cross the boundary of the network cluster.

24. The method of claim 22, comprising the step of: d.) communicating detection packets on each interface of the portal node that is not part of the network cluster to which the portal node belongs.

25. The method of claim 22, comprising the step of: d.) discarding information packets received by the portal node via the at least one link, when the information packets do not comprise detection packets.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the detection packet comprises a Virtual Root Bridge Protocol (VRBP) frame.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the VRBP frame includes frame identity information configured to identify the detection packet as the VRBP frame, and network cluster identity information configured to identify the network cluster of the portal node transmitting the VRBP frame, and wherein the method comprises the step of: d.) utilizing the network cluster identity information by the portal node receiving the VRBP frame to determine whether the VRBP frame corresponds to the network cluster to which the portal node receiving the VRBP frame belongs.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein step (a) comprises the step of: a1.) arranging the plurality of network clusters in a hierarchical configuration.

29. A Virtual Root Bridge Protocol (VRBP) data structure for detection packets, wherein the VRBP data structure is embodied in a computer-readable medium, comprising: version information configured to identify a version of the VRBP;frame identity information configured to identify the detection packet as a VRBP frame; andnetwork cluster identity information configured to identify a network cluster of a portal node transmitting the VRBP frame, wherein a portal node receiving the VRBP frame utilizes the network cluster identity information to determine whether the VRBP frame corresponds to the network cluster to which the portal node receiving the VRBP frame belongs; andvirtual root bridge parameter information configured to specify virtual root bridge parameters associated with the portal node transmitting the VRBP frame.

30. The VRBP data structure of claim 29, wherein network cluster identity information is configured to identify a RSTP instance of the portal node transmitting the VRBP frame.

31. The VRBP data structure of claim 29, wherein the version information comprises a major version number and a minor version number.

32. The VRBP data structure of claim 31, wherein the portal node receiving the VRBP frame is configured to discard the VRBP frame when the major version number contained in the VRBP frame does not match the major version number of the VRBP utilized by the portal node receiving the VRBP frame.

33. The VRBP data structure of claim 29, comprising: address information configured to identify an interface on the portal node transmitting the VRBP frame.

34. The VRBP data structure of claim 33, wherein portal nodes within a network cluster are configured to mutually agree upon the virtual root bridge parameters to be used by the portal nodes within the network cluster.

35. The VRBP data structure of claim 34, wherein the virtual root bridge parameters contained in the VRBP frame having a lowest value of the address information are used by the portal nodes within the network cluster.

36. The VRBP data structure of claim 29, comprising: time length information configured to specify a length of time between transmission of VRBP frames.