Patent ID: 8554952
Filing Date: 2013-10-08
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A method of connecting switches in a data network, comprising: providing a plurality of deployment units each comprising a first tier of edge switches and egress switches each capable of being connected to each of a second tier of spine switches in the deployment unit, each edge switch capable of being further connected to a respective set of computing devices, the spine switches to be connected to the edge switches and the egress switches using only connections between tiers; providing at least one network group to connect the plurality of deployment units, the network group comprising at least one edge switch for each deployment group; removing at least one egress switch from each deployment unit where the egress switch is connected to one of the edge switches of the at least one network group; adjusting each respective edge switch of the at least one network group to further function as an egress switch for a respective one of the deployment units; and connecting the at least one network group to an external network, connections for network traffic between the deployment units and the external network being only between-tier connections.