Patent ID: 8588107
Filing Date: 2013-11-19
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for returning a set of one or more domain identifiers without a build fabric phase in a network fabric, comprising: sending a message to a principal switch of the fabric requesting the domain identifiers to be returned from a switch in the network fabric, wherein the message conforms to a message format for requesting the domain identifiers to be assigned and includes an invalid domain identifier; receiving, from the principal switch, a response to the message; upon determining, based on the response indicating that the message contains the invalid domain identifier, that the principal switch does not support returning domain identifiers without a build fabric phase, initiating a build fabric phase to effect removal of the domain identifiers; and upon determining, based on at least one of the response acknowledging the message and the response including an updated list of fabric identifiers reflecting removal of the domain identifiers, that the principal switch supports returning domain identifiers without a build fabric phase, updating a local list of fabric identifiers based on the updated list of fabric identifiers to effect removal of the domain identifiers without a build fabric phrase.