Patent ID: 8149834
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A packet switch operating method comprising: a packet switch receiving an Ethernet packet on a physical port of the packet switch from a network node connected to the physical port, the network node being physically distinct from the packet switch, the Ethernet packet comprising a first transport identifier associated with a first network, a layer-two source address, and a layer-two destination address associated with a second network; the packet switch modifying the Ethernet packet to comprise a second transport identifier, the second transport identifier is associated with the layer-two destination address; and the packet switch transmitting the modified Ethernet packet to the network node via the physical port, the modified Ethernet packet retaining the layer-two source address and the layer-two destination address; wherein the receiving comprises receiving the Ethernet packet on an Internet Protocol (IP) subnet assigned to the physical port and the transmitting comprises transmitting the modified Ethernet packet on the same IP subnet; wherein the network node is configured to prevent packets having one transport identifier from being forwarded to a network configured to use a different transport identifier; and wherein the network node is part of the first network and the second network, the packet switch is not part of the first network or the second network, and the packet switch configured to modify the Ethernet packet for the network node enabling exchange of the Ethernet packet by the network node between the first network and the second network.