Patent ID: 7756140
Filing Date: 2010-07-13
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A relay device in which a single or a plurality of layer-2 switches are connected in subordination to the same physical port and a single or a plurality of terminals are connected in subordination to the layer-2 switches, comprising: an address correspondence holding unit which holds, for each of the terminals, an IP address and real MAC address of the terminal and a virtual MAC address being a MAC address that is virtual; a proxy reply hardware unit which reads the virtual MAC address of the corresponding terminal from the address correspondence holding unit upon receiving a first ARP request frame that seeks acquisition of the virtual MAC address from the terminal, and sends back the virtual MAC address to the terminal; a MAC address conversion unit that receives a first frame addressed to the virtual MAC address, when the first frame is sent and received between the terminals, performs conversion of the virtual MAC address and real MAC address for the MAC address of the first frame, and sends back a converted second frame; and a terminal connection port holding unit which holds connection-destination physical port information, wherein the proxy reply hardware unit sends back the virtual MAC address when judging that communication is in subordination to the same physical port on the basis of the physical port information and sends back the real MAC address when judging that communication is in subordination to another physical port, when the first ARP request frame has been received.