Multilayer switch

Abstract: An enterprise network includes at least one communication device 208 - 1 , an Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) Layer 2 switch 206 , and a corresponding enterprise switch 208 . The communication device 208 - 1 is connected to at least one of an access point 904 - 1 and a respective port 207 - 1 of the Layer 2 switch 206 . The enterprise network includes a plurality of Emergency Location Information Numbers (ELINs) corresponding to differing segments of the enterprise network. The Layer 2 switch 206 serves at least one of the differing segments. The communication device 208 - 1 includes a discovery agent 252 operable, when a predetermined first event occurs, to obtain from the Layer 2 switch 206 at least one of an access point identifier, a switch identifier from the Layer 2 switch 206 , and a port identifier identifying the respective port 207 - 1.

Abstract: A multi-service network switch capable of providing multiple network services from a single platform. The switch incorporates a distributed packet forwarding architecture where each of the various cards is capable of making independent forwarding decisions. The switch further allows for dynamic resource management for dynamically assigning modem and ISDN resources to an incoming call. The switch may also include fault management features to guard against single points of failure within the switch. The switch further allows the partitioning of the switch into multiple virtual routers where each virtual router has its own wet of resources and a routing table. Each virtual router is further partitioned into virtual private networks for further controlling access to the network. The switch's supports policy based routing where specific routing paths are selected based a domain name, a telephone number, and the like. The switch also provides tiered access of the Internet by defining quality of access levels to each incoming connection request. The switch may further support an IP routing protocol and architecture in which the layer two protocols are indepenent of the physical interface they run on. Furthermore, the switch includes a generic forwarding interface software for hiding the details of transmitting and receiving packets over different interface types.

Abstract: A method for providing broadband communications over a multi-layered network having a plurality of Open System Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model layers functioning therein includes monitoring at least one OSI reference model layer functioning in the multi-layered network. A quality of service event is determined whether to have occurred in the multi-layered network. The quality of service event is determined to have occurred at a layer N in the OSI reference model. Network provisioning is changed at a layer less than N in response to the quality of service event, and a signal is provided when the network provisioning at the layer less than N has been changed. A system for providing broadband communications includes a multi-layered network, a network monitor, and a network controller. The multi-layered network has a plurality of Open System Interconnection (OSI) reference model layers functioning therein. The network monitor is coupled to the multi-layered network, and the network monitor is adapted to monitor at least one OSI reference model layer functioning in the multi-layered network, determine that a quality of service event has occurred in the multi-layer network, and determine that the quality of service event occurred at a layer N in the OSI reference model. The network controller is coupled to the multi-layered network, and the network monitor is adapted to respond to the quality of service event in the multi-layered network by changing the network provisioning at a layer less than N.

Abstract: A Network Switch and related method are disclosed for handling large amounts of internetwork message traffic employing internetwork protocols in a way substantially as efficient as a bridge handles network traffic within a network without the complexity and expense related to employing a full router. The Network Switch features database means for correlating MAC addresses, network addresses, network switch port addresses and VLAN configuration. The Network Switch maintains the network presence of a bridge (i.e., it does not have its own MAC or network address) and operates promiscuously by having internetwork traffic travel through the Network Switch and entering address data of the data packets. The Network Switch thus learns the network topology and subsequently redirects and re-addresses packets addressed to a router and transmits them to their destination MAC address. In this way, the workload on the router is greatly reduced. Any packet having an unknown address is forwarded to the router as originally sent. The related method discloses an internetwork configuration featuring a plurality of networks connected with at least one Network Switch device and at least one router, and serves to alleviate the workload which had been placed entirely on the router according to prior art configurations. The Network Switch also features various modes of operation for handling address resolution requests.