Patent ID: 7835367
Filing Date: 2010-11-16
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A network connection method for configuring a virtual Local Area Network (LAN) in which plural virtual LANs distributed over plural sites are interconnected via a network formed by plural layer 2 switches, the network connection method comprising: monitoring, by a layer 2 switch in the network, a subscriber virtual LAN identifier of a first frame for automatically configuring the virtual LAN sent from a site in the plural sites, the first frame including an attribute event, and the subscriber virtual LAN identifier being used among the plural sites; assigning a network virtual LAN identifier based on the monitored subscriber virtual LAN identifier of the first frame if the attribute event instructs adding of the subscriber virtual LAN identifier, the subscriber virtual LAN identifier is new to the network, and a number of network virtual LAN identifiers that have already been assigned is less than an allowable maximum number, the network virtual LAN identifier being used in the network; and generating, by the layer 2 switch that has monitored the first frame, a second frame for automatically configuring a particular virtual LAN in the network based on the assigned network virtual LAN identifier, and transmitting the second frame to the other layer 2 switches in the network to interconnect the plural virtual LANs distributed over the plural sites via the particular virtual LAN.