Patent ID: 8259720
Filing Date: 2012-09-04
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for processing, at a first layer 2 switch, a hardware address request comprising: receiving the hardware address request from a second layer 2 switch, wherein the hardware address request is directed to an emulated switch, wherein the emulated switch comprises a plurality of routers, and wherein the first layer 2 switch is an edge switch that has an interface with at least one of the routers of the emulated switch, wherein each of the routers of the emulated switch is assigned a same IP (Internet Protocol) address and a same MAC (Media Access Controller) address; forwarding the hardware address request to a first one of the routers of the emulated switch; receiving a hardware address reply from the first router, the hardware address reply including an anycast hardware address shared between each router in the emulated switch; adding a layer 2 network header to the hardware address reply, wherein the anycast hardware address corresponds to the same MAC address that is assigned to each of the routers of the emulated switch; and forwarding the hardware address reply to a third layer 2 switch.