Patent ID: 8144698
Filing Date: 2012-03-27
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A machine implemented method, comprising: receiving, by a provider edge (PE) device of a provider network, a plurality of packets from a plurality of local nodes over a plurality of local area networks (LANs), the plurality of packets destined for one or more different remote nodes over the provider network, wherein each of the packets contains a source MAC (media access control) address identifying one of the local nodes as a source, the local nodes are identified by different source MAC addresses, and the PE device is associated with a set of virtual MAC addresses, wherein the PE device comprises a set of access interfaces, each of the access interfaces identified by a different one of the virtual MAC addresses and coupled to a different one of the LANs; replacing, by the PE device, each of the different source MAC addresses in the packets with one of the virtual MAC addresses associated with the PE device, wherein all of the different source MAC addresses from a same one of the LANs are replaced by a same one of the virtual MAC addresses; transmitting, by the PE device, the packets having the virtual MAC addresses toward the one or more destined remote nodes over the provider network; responsive to the PE device receiving a packet from a remote node over the provider network, the packet having one of the virtual MAC addresses of the PE device as a destination MAC address, the PE device performing the following: