Patent ID: 7961728
Filing Date: 2011-06-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of restricting a data packet to a virtual switch instance comprising: a packet switch receiving a data packet from a first one of a plurality of logical ports of the packet switch associated with a virtual switch instance, the data packet comprising a user tag; the packet switch concealing the user tag from a switch module comprised by the packet switch with a provisional identifier, wherein the provisional identifier is uniquely associated with the virtual switch instance; the packet switch forwarding, through the switch module, the data packet to a second one of the other logical ports of the plurality associated with the virtual switch instance based at least in part on the provisional identifier, the switch module being incapable of forwarding the data packet based on the concealed user tag; and the packet switch revealing the user tag by stripping the provisional identifier; and subsequent to the packet switch revealing the user tag, the packet switch transmitting the data packet to a network node connected to the packet switch, the network node being physically distinct and remotely located from the packet switch, wherein the transmitted data packet does not include the provisional identifier.