Patent ID: 9191278
Filing Date: 2015-11-17
Classification: H04L,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method of communicating, comprising: detecting within an internet protocol (IP) network an offending network device that has been adversely affecting the IP network performance: receiving, by a first network switch within the IP network, a discovery protocol frame that comprises a field having a query for inquiring whether the network switch has a database entry specifying a Media Access Control (MAC) address and switch port for the offending network device to locate the offending device, said discovery protocol frame further comprising a command as a user defined field for a network switch that has the offending network device connected thereto to configure itself to disable the switch port to which the offending network device is connected or block data traffic from the MAC address of the offending network device; and propagating, by the first network switch and based on contents of the discovery protocol frame, the discovery protocol frame to a neighbor switch on a first switch port of the first network switch based on a determination, by the first network switch, that the neighbor switch has a database entry specifying the MAC address for the offending network device, wherein: in response to determining that the offending network device location has been located on a second switch port of the neighbor switch, the contents of the discovery protocol frame cause the neighbor switch to to disable the second switch port to which the offending network device is connected or block data traffic from the MAC address of the offending network device based on the contents of the discovery protocol frame.