STP root guard

The Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) chooses a root switch. Each of the other switches has a “root” port and one or more “designated ports(s)” chosen by STP. Packets are transmitted upstream toward the root switch through the root port, and packets designated for downstream switches from the root switch are received by the root port and transmitted through the designated ports. In the invention, an administrator of the core network identifies which switch ports in the core network are boundary ports to customer networks. The administrator designates the boundary ports as “root guard protected” ports (RG ports). The STP then executes as required by the ordinary STP protocol, and if a RG port is selected by the STP to be a root portm then the status of the port is set to “blocked,” and no packets are transmitted through the port.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to layer 2 computer networks utilizing a Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), and more particularly to the operation of multiple networks connected by layer 2 switches and using a common Spanning Tree Protocol.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is a common engineering practice for an entity which provides network applications for a number of customers to interconnect the networks using Layer 2 switches. That is, the network is connected as a Layer 2 (L2) network. For example, an Internet Service Provider (ISP) ordinarily has a core network. Each customer has his own customer network. When the networks are interconnected as a Layer 2 network, L2 switches interconnect the ISP core network with each customer's Layer 2 network.

The Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), when executed in the core network, will choose a “root switch”. There may be a large number of L2 switches in the core network, and each L2 switch will have a “root port”, and one or more “designated ports” chosen by the STP.

The STP chooses the root switch on the basis of an identifier of eight (8) bytes length assigned to each L2 switch. The identifier has a first part of two (2) bytes length assigned by a person such as a network administrator and is called the “priority”. The identifier has a second part which is the six (6) byte MAC address of the switch. The STP chooses the switch having the smallest value of identifier as the root switch. The priority is the most significant two bytes of the identifier, and the value given to the priority by a network administrator determines which switch is chosen by STP as the root switch, unless the same priority is assigned to several L2 switches in which case the unique value of the MAC address will determine which switch of the lowest priority is chosen by STP as the root switch.

A problem arises when the layer 2 network of L2 switches extends over networks administered by different people. For example, the ISP core network is administered by the ISP network administrator. Each customer has its own network, and each customer of the ISP has its own network administrator who administrates that customer's network. It is highly desirable that the ISP root switch be placed by the STP within a switch owned by the ISP, and not in a customer's network. In the event that the root switch is placed by STP in the customer's network, then that customer will carry traffic for all other customers of the ISP, and this is an undesirable situation.

The ISP network administrator assigns a priority to switches in the ISP network. Each customer assigns a priority to each switch in that customer's network. As long as the priority assigned by the ISP network administrator is smaller than any priority assigned by a customer to a customer owned switch, the STP will place the root switch inside the ISP network. However, in the event that a customer administrator assigns a smaller priority to one of that customer's switches, the STP will make that customer's L2 switch the root switch.

There is needed a method for insuring that the STP places the root switch within the core network of the Internet Service Provider. More broadly stated, there is a need for a method to insure that STP places the root switch within a designated group of switches in an extended L2 switch network, and not in a switch outside of that designated group of switches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) is executed in layer 2 switched computer networks in order to prevent loops from occurring. In networks having interconnected layer 2 switches, the STP chooses one of the switches as the root switch. Each of the other switches has a “root port” and one or more “designated port(s)” chosen by the STP. The root switch is placed at the apex of a logical tree of switches, and the switches communicate by transmitting packets up and down the logical tree.

The root port of a L2 switch is the port through which the switch transmits packets toward the root switch, that is upstream in the logical tree of switches. The designated ports are the ports through which the switch transmits packets downstream in the logical tree of switches to other switches at a lower logical layer in the tree. Some ports of a switch may be put into “blocked” state or role by the STP in order to prevent loops in the L2 network.

In the invention, the administrator, a person, of the core network identifies which ports of switches belonging to the core network are boundary ports to a customer owned network. The administrator of the core network designates the boundary ports as “root guard protected” ports (RG ports). The Spanning Tree Protocol then executes as required by the ordinary STP protocol. Software then checks the role of a RG port. In the event that a RG port is selected by STP as a “designated port”, then operation of the network begins with packets being exchanged through that designated port. In the event that the RG port is selected by the STP to be a root port, then the state of the port is set to “blocked”, and no packets are transmitted through the port. A notation in an explanatory database giving a reason that the port is set to blocked state is made, that the port is “root guard inconsistent”.

The administrator of the core network may then communicate with the administrator of a customer network to inform him that the priority of a customer L2 switch is set too low. The customer's network administrator then may re-set the priority of the L2 switches in the customer network, and when STP again executes within the core network, the port will be selected as a designated port and operation of the network will begin (alternatively a different port will be selected as the designated port and the original port set to blocked, as is commonly done by the STP). Some protocols, for example the Simple Network Management Protocol, SNMP protocol, may automatically inform the administrator of the customer network that his network is blocked from exchanging packets with the core network. In the absence of automatic notification, the administrator of the customer network will notice that the connection to the ISP is not working. The administrator of the customer network will then be told by the ISP administrator that the ISP port is Root Guard Inconsistent, and so the administrator of the customer network will then change the priority settings for the L2 switches within the customer network.

Other and further aspects of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following description and by reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now toFIG. 1, computer network100is shown. Computer network100has a core network102. The boundary of core network102is indicated by a dotted circle, which is also marked as “ISP boundary”, for example, the boundary of an Internet Service Provider core network.

Other networks not controlled by the owner of core network102are connected to the core network. For example, as shown for network100, there are two customers connected to the core network, customer A and customer B. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, core network102is owned by an Internet Service Provider, ISP. The networks connected to the ISP core network102are owned by other parties. In the exemplary computer network100, there are two customers shown, customer A and customer B. Customer A has three separate customer networks connected to the ISP core network, customer A network104, customer A network106and customer A network108. Also, for example, customer B is shown having three separate customer networks connected to ISP core network102. For example, customer B network110, customer B network112, and customer B network114are all connected to ISP core network102.

ISP core network102is shown representatively as being made up of three layer 2 switches (L2 switches). For example, ISP core network102is shown representatively containing L2 switch120, L2 switch122, and L2 switch124. The L2 switches of the ISP core network102are interconnected by links between ports of the switches. For example, link130connects between switch120and switch122, link132connects between L2 switch122and L2 switch124, and link134connects between L2 switch120and L2 switch124. These links130,132,134, etc. are all bi-directional.

Also, customer B networks110,112,114are connected through links to the various switches of ISP core network102. For example, customer B network110is connected through link150to L2 switch122, and is connected through link152to L2 switch120. Customer B network112is connected through link154to L2 switch120, and is connected through link156to L2 switch124. Customer B network114is connected through link158to L2 switch124.

For example, customer A network104maybe located in Boston, customer A network106may be located in Chicago, and customer A network108maybe located in Los Angeles, each of these cities being at least 1,000 miles apart. The ISP core network102serves to interconnect these networks of customer A. Further, customer B networks maybe in distant cities, either on the same continent or on different continents. For example, customer B network110may be in New York city, customer B network112may be in London, England, and customer B network114may be in some other major city, for example, Sydney, Australia. Again, ISP core network102connects together the various networks of customer B, etc.

Further, ISP core network102may connect together various other customer networks in various diverse locations.

The core network102and the various customer networks which it interconnects all operate at Layer 2 through interconnection of Layer 2 switches.

The spanning tree algorithm, or spanning tree protocol, is used to prevent the formation of loops in a Layer 2-computer network, for example, a Layer 2 computer network100.

Turning now toFIG. 2, a logical tree diagram200is shown. The logical tree diagram200is generated by the spanning tree protocol executing in L2 switches interconnected to form the Layer 2 switching network100. The spanning tree protocol chooses a L2 switch as the root switch202. Root switch202contains a “R” indicating that L2 switch202has been chosen by the spanning tree protocol as the root switch. The root switch has, for example, two designated ports, as shown in the exemplary logical tree diagram ofFIG. 2, port202A and port202B. The terminology “D”204indicating a designated port above boundary206indicates that the ports of the root L2 switch202facing “downwardly” are designated ports in the STP ordinary sense. Ports facing upwardly in STP logic tree200are set by STP to be root ports.

Root L2 switch202is in logical layer one (1)210of the logical tree200. Root L2 switch202connects by designated ports202A,202B to logic level two (2)212L2 switches214and L2 switch216. The designated port of the higher logic level root switch202connects to a “root port” of the lower logic level switches214,216. The indicia218indicates that beneath the boundary206in the logic tree, the switches in the next layer down connect by root ports, in the direction of the root switch.

In the exemplary spanning tree logical tree diagram200, the third logic layer220switches connect by their root ports to the designated ports of the logic layer two (2) switches212, as shown by the indicia D222and indicia R224at the boundary226between logic layer two (2)212switches and logic layer three (3) L2 switches220. Again, the root port of the logical layer three (3) switches220connect upstream to the designated ports of the logical layer two (2)212switches. The designated ports of logical layer 2 switches are indicated by the indicia “D”222at the boundary226, and the root ports of logic layer three (3) switches220are indicated by the indicia “R”224.

Again, boundary230is between logic layer three (3)220L2 switches and logic layer four (4) L2 switches232. Root Ports of the layer four (4) switches232connect upstream to the higher layer logical switches of the logic tree. The root ports of the logical layer four (4) L2 switches232are indicated by indicia “R”234and these root ports of logical layer four (4) L2 switches232connect to designated ports of the logical layer three L2 switches220, as indicated by the indicia “D”236.

Finally, end station computers such as, for example, end station computer252connects to a switch, for example switch254, at port254A which is shown representatively in logic layer for four (4) of the STP logic tree200. Additionally, the other ports254B and254C may connect either to end terminal computers, or to additional lower logic layer switches. As indicia “D”260indicates, designated ports of logic layer 4232L2 switches connect to objects in the next lower logical layer. And when the objects are end station computers, the end station computers simply connect by their port. However, when the objects are further lower logic layer L2 switches, the L2 switches connect by their root port, as indicated by indicia262.

In accordance with the spanning tree protocol, are end station computer252communicates with another end station computer254by transmitting messages up-stream through the logical layers of the STP logical tree200until a common L2 switch is reached, and the message then is forwarded down the tree to the destination to the computer. For example, the common L2 switch for end station computer252and end station computer254is the root L2 switch202. In contrast, end station computer256is connected to port254C of L2 switch254. Accordingly, end station computer252may communicate with end station computer256by simply transferring messages through L2 switch254. As a further example, end station computer260is connected to port270A of L2 switch270, and L2 switch270is at logical layer three (3)220of the STP logical tree200. Accordingly, end station computer260may exchange messages with end station computer254by transferring messages upstream to L2 switch216which then transfers messages downstream to end station computer254. That is, the common L2 switch between end station computer260and end station computer254is the logic layer two (2) L2 switch216.

Returning now toFIG. 1, it is desirable that the spanning tree protocol make a L2 switch within the ISP core network102, such as L2 switch124, the root switch. This desirability is shown by the indicia “R” inside the square symbol for L2 switch124. For example, in the event that end station computer252belongs to customer A network104and end station computer254is located in customer A network108, it is desirable to have root L2 switch202located within the ISP core network102, for example, at L2 switch124. When the root switch is located within the ISP core network102, then customer A traffic from its end station computer252to its end station254passes through either customer A networks or the ISP core network104, and does not pass through some other customers network. However, in the event that the STP protocol places the root bridge202within a customer B network, for example, customer B network110,112, or114, then customer A network traffic passes through another customer's network. To have a customer's traffic pass through some other customer's network is a very undesirable situation. The present invention avoids this undesirable situation, and places the root bridge within the boundaries of ISP core network102.

A further requirement on the placement of a root port is that no perimeter port of a switch within the ISP core network102be chosen as a root port. Even if the root switch is inside the perimeter of the ISP core network102, it is possible when large chains of switches are involved, that the path from a root port on the perimeter in a switch inside the perimeter to another switch inside the perimeter will pass through a switch outside of the perimeter. This error condition is avoided by preventing a perimeter port from being chosen as a root port.

Operation of the spanning tree protocol will next be described. Turning now toFIG. 3, a field diagram300of a typical layer 2 computer network packet is shown. Computer network packet300has a layer 2 header302, a layer 2 payload304, and end fields306. The L2 header302has an L2 destination address field (L2 DA field)302A, and L2 source address field (L2 SA field)302B, and fields302C for other layer 2 header fields.

The following description of the spanning tree protocol follows closely the description given by Radia Pearlman in her bookInterrconnections, Second Edition, published by Addison Wellesley, Copyright date 2000, all disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, particularly pages 58–90. In the description by Pearlman of the spanning tree protocol, the switching entities are referred to as “bridges”, and this terminology is taken as synonymous with the present terminology of “L2 switch”.

When the computer network packet300is used as a configuration message for the spanning tree protocol, the payload field contains the configuration message fields shown inFIG. 4. The number of octets, or bytes, for each field are shown by the numbers at the left of the field. The protocol identifier field402is two bytes and has the value “0”. The version field404is one byte, and has the value “0”. The message type field406is one byte and has the value “0”. The flags field408contains two (2) flags. The “TC” field is the least significant bit, and is the topology change field. If “set” in the configuration message received on the root port, it indicates that the receiving L2 change flag switch should use forward delay (a short timer) for aging out station cache entries rather than the aging timer (the normal, longer timer for station cache entries). The “TCA” field, the most significant bit, is the topology change notification acknowledgement. If “set” in the configuration message received on the root port, it indicates that the L2 switch receiving this configuration message no longer needs to inform the parent L2 switch that a topology change has occurred. The parent L2 switch will take responsibility for advising the root L2 switch of the topology change. The remaining bits in the flags field408are unused.

The root identification field (ID field)410is the important field for the present invention. The root ID field is eight (8) bytes in length. Each L2 switch is configured with a two byte priority, which is added to the six byte identification of the L2 switch. The six byte identification of the L2 switch may be a layer 2 address for one of its ports, or it may be any unique 48 bit address. The 48 bit ID is chosen to be unique for the L2 switch. The priority portion is the numerically most significant portion. The eight (8) byte root ID consists of the priority followed by the 48 bit ID of the L2 switch which is the root L2 switch, assumed to be the root switch by the L2 switch transmitting the configuration message ofFIG. 4. The two byte priority is configured by the network administrator, a person, responsible for the L2 switch.

The cost of path to root field412is four (4) bytes in length. The cost of path to root is the total cost from the L2 switch that transmitted the configuration message to the L2 switch listed in the root ID field410.

The switch ID field414is 8 bytes in length. This field is two bytes of configured priority followed by the six byte ID of the L2 switch transmitting the configuration message.

The port ID field416is two bytes in length. The first byte, that is the most significant byte, is a configurable priority. The second byte is a number assigned by the L2 switch to the port on which the configuration message was transmitted. The L2 switch must assign a locally unique number to each of its ports.

The message age field418is the estimated time since the root L2 switch originally transmitted its configuration message, on which the information in this configuration message is based. The estimated time is set out in units of 1/256ths of a second.

The max age field420is two bytes in length. The max age field contains the time at which the configuration message should be deleted. This field is also expressed in values of 1/256ths of a second.

The hello time field422is two bytes in length. The hello time is the time between generation of configuration messages by the root L2 switch. The hello time is also expressed in 1/256ths of a second.

The forward delay field424is the length of time that an L2 switch should stay in each of the intermediate states before transiting a port from “blocking” to “forwarding”. The forward delay time is also expressed in 1/256ths of a second.

The purpose of the spanning tree protocol is to have L2 switches dynamically discover a subset of the topology that is loop free, that is it is a logical tree, and yet has enough connectivity so that there is a path between every pair of L2 switches. That is, the tree is “spanning”. The L2 switches transmit configuration messages, that is special messages, to each other that allow them to calculate a spanning tree. For example, the configuration message ofFIG. 4is such a configuration message. These configuration messages have the name, “Configuration Bridge Protocol Data Units”, or BPDUs, as set up in the IEEE 802.1 standard. The terminology “configuration BPDU” and “configuration message” are synonyms.

The configuration message contains enough information so that an L2 switch can do the following:1. Elect a single L2 switch, among all the L2 switches interconnected in the computer network to be the “root L2 switch.”2. Calculate the distance of the shortest path from themselves to the root L2 switch.3. For each local area network in the computer network, elect a designated L2 switch from among those connected to the local area network.4. Choose a port, known as the “root port”, that gives the best path from themselves to the root L2 switch.5. Select ports to be included in the spanning tree. The ports selected will be the root port plus any ports selected as a designated port for connection to L2 switches at a lower logical level of the spanning tree, or for connection to end station computers.6. The Layer 2 destination address in L2 DA field302A is a special multicast address assigned to all L2 switches. The fields and the configuration message which are key to an understanding of establishing the STP spanning tree are: the root ID field410, which is the identification of the L2 switch assumed to be the root L2 switch; the transmitting Layer 2 switch identification, field414, which is the identification of the L2 switch initiating this configuration message; and the cost field412, giving the cost of the least cost path to the root L2 switch from the transmitting L2 switch. This is the best path of which the transmitting L2 switch was aware of the time of initiating transmission of the configuration message.

A L2 switch initially assumes itself to be the root L2 switch, and transmits configuration messages on each of its ports with its ID as root L2 switch, and also as transmitting L2 switch, and “0” as cost412.

During role negotiations, a L2 switch continuously receives configuration messages on each of its ports, and saves the “best” configuration message from each port. The L2 switch determines the best configuration message by comparing not only the configuration messages received from a particular port, but also the configuration message that the L2 switch would transmit on that port.

The best configuration message is chosen as follows:

Given two (2) a configuration messages, C1 and C2, the following are true.

1. C1 is “better than” C2 if the root ID of field410listed in C1 is numerically lower than the root ID listed in C2.2. If the root ID's are equal, than C1 is better than C2 if the cost listed in C1 is numerically lower than the cost listed in C2.3. If the root ID's and the costs are equal, then C1 is better than C2 if the transmitting L2 switch ID listed in C1 is numerically lower than the transmitting switch ID listed in C2.4. If the root ID's, costs, and transmitting bridge ID's are equal, then the port identifier serves as a tie breaker.

A result of executing the spanning tree protocol in the switches of an L2 computer network such as L2 computer network100, is that the switch having the lowest assigned “priority”, the most significant bytes of the root ID field410, is selected as the root L2 switch. Accordingly, in the event that the network manager for the ISP core network102assigns smaller priority values to the ISP switches, then the root L2 switch will be established within the boundaries of the ISP core network ISP102. However, in the event that a customer network administrator assigns a still lower value, that is a mistaken value, to a priority of a switch in a customer network, the STP will place the root L2 switch202within that customers network.

After the role negotiation, a port which is not designated stops sending out BPDUs, and only receives BPDUs from the designated port. Therefore, if a port is not designated, it will receive BPDUs. If the port is designated, it is not supposed to receive any BPDU, unless another switch/port tries to challenge its role, and another negotiation begins.

A topology change notification message500, as shown inFIG. 5is used to assist the spanning tree protocol in maintaining the spanning tree network in the event that a topology change occurs in the network. Details of the use of the topology change notification message500are set out by Radia Pearlman in the above-mentioned bookInterconnections Second Edition, at pages 66–70. The topology change message uses a protocol identifier field502, containing the value “0”. The topology change notification message500also uses a version field504containing the value “0”. The topology change notification message also uses a message type field506containing the value “128.”

The topology change notification message500is used by a L2 switch which determines that a port must be transitioned from “forwarding” to “blocking”, or vice versa The L2 switch transmits the topology change notification message upstream through its root port to its parent L2 switch. Finally, the root L2 switch receives a topology change notification message, and sets the TC flag in field408in its configuration messages, which it transmits on a periodic basis. Further details of the use of the topology change notification message may be found in the book by Radia Perlman,Interconnections, Second Edition.

Turning now toFIG. 6, a block diagram600of L2 switch602is shown. L2 switch602has port “1”604, port “2”606, port “3”608, port “4”610, port “5”612, port “6”614, port “7”616, and port “8”618, etc. In accordance with the invention, a few ports of L2 switch602have been established as “Root Guard (RG) ports”. The RG ports are on the boundary of core Network102and connect to customer networks.

For example, port “3”608is established as a root guard (RG) port, as is port “5”612, and port “7”616, etc. The “root guard” status of ports608,612, and616are indicated by the blocks containing the indicia RG, for example, block608A for port “3”, block612A for port “5”, and block616A for port “7”, etc.

The status “root guarded”, RG, is established by the present invention to prevent the spanning tree protocol from placing the root L2 switch202outside of the core network102.

Simply stated, in the event that the spanning tree protocol selects a root guarded port as a “root port”, as shown in spanning tree protocol logic tree200, then the port is transferred to “blocked” state. In blocked status, no data packets are transmitted or received through the port. That is, if a port is designated as a root guarded port, and if the spanning tree protocol selects that port as a root port, then the port is transferred into “blocked” state and is not used.

The rationale for transferring the root guarded port into “blocked” state in the event that the spanning tree protocol selects it as a root port is that the root guarded ports are the boundary ports between the core network102and external networks such as customer networks. In the event that a boundary port is selected as a root port, it may mean that the root L2 switch is outside of the core network102, or it may mean that the root switch is inside of the ISP core network and a perimeter port has been chosen as a root port. In either event the port is set into “blocked” state.

Referring now toFIG. 7, table700is a port “state table” of the prior art. The state of the port is given in column702. The role of the port is given in column704. The role of the port is determined by the spanning tree protocol. For example, the spanning tree protocol may select the port as a root port as shown in entry710. In the event that the port is selected as a root port, then the state of the port is set “forwarding”, as shown at entry710A. In the event that the spanning tree protocol selects the port as a designated port, as shown in entry712, the port is set to the state “forwarding” as shown by entry712A.

In the event that a port is set to the role “blocked port” as shown at entry714, the state of the port is set to “blocking”, as shown at entry714A. Ports are set to “blocking” state by STP in order to avoid loops in the L2 switched network. The state of the port as set forth in table700is determined by the spanning tree protocol.

Turning now toFIG. 8, a flow chart of process800in accordance with the invention is shown. In process800additions are made to the port state table as shown inFIG. 9. The additions of the process800are of a new and inventive nature in order to solve the problem of the spanning tree protocol incorrectly placing the root L2 switch outside of the core network102.

In discussing process800of establishing root guard for ports on the boundary between core network102and a customer network, the concept of a “boundary port” will be introduced. For example, port122A is a boundary port between core network102and customer A network104, where the boundary port is the port of the core network L2 switch connected to the customer A network.

Further, port122B is a boundary port of L2 switch122connected to customer A network106. Still further, port124A is a boundary port of L2 switch124to customer A network106. Still further, port124B is a boundary port of L2 switch124to customer B network114. That is, a boundary port is a port of a L2 switch within core network102, where that port connects to a customer network.

Turning now to the process800shown in the flow diagram ofFIG. 8, at block802it is determined that a spanning tree protocol process has ended. Block802contains the notation “STP ended”, meaning that a spanning tree protocol process has executed and has ended. From block802the process goes to block804.

At block804the process800learns the “desired” root port of the L2 switch according to the spanning tree protocol. From block804the process800goes to block806.

At block806the question is asked: “Is the desired root port protected by root guard?” In the event that the answer is yes, the root port is protected by root guard, the process goes to block808where the state of the desired root port is set to “blocked” state. That is, the port is set to “blocked” state shown in entry902A of port state table900ofFIG. 9.

In the event that the question at block806is answered no, the root port is not protected by root guard, the process goes to block810and begins transfer of packets through the root port. That is, normal operation of the spanning tree is established.

The ports guarded by root guard, as shown inFIG. 6, are boundary ports to customer networks. When a boundary port to a customer network is selected by STP as a root port, that port is transitioned into the “blocked” state at block808of the process800. As a result, the desired root port does not become the actual root port, and a different root port must be selected.

Referring now to the spanning tree shown inFIG. 2, if a boundary port is a root port, the meaning is that the root L2 switch202is outside of the core network102. This is because the spanning tree protocol executed in the core network102and in the customer networks, as these networks are connected as on extended L2 switch network. The purpose of the invention is to prevent execution of the spanning tree protocol to select a boundary port of core network102as the root port for the L2 switch having the boundary port, by blocking any boundary port selected as the root port of the L2 switch.

Turning now toFIG. 9, port table900in accordance with the present invention is shown. Prior art entries710for the root port,712for each designated port, and714for a blocked port are shown. Entry902, in accordance with the present invention is shown for a “root inconsistent port”. The state of the root inconsistent port is shown at entry902A to be “blocking”. A root inconsistent port is established, for example, at block808of process800.

The establishment of a port as a “root inconsistent port” by the present invention is done when a “root guarded” port is selected by the spanning tree protocol as a “desired root port”.

A state diagram of a port when the root guard protection of the present invention is enabled is shown inFIG. 10. When a new port is added, it starts the regular STP negotiation exchanging BPDU's with the port to which it is connected. If the negotiations end by leaving the port with the designated port role, at block10,002and therefore eventually in the “forwarding state”, then the port behaves like a regular port.

However, if instead the negotiation brings the port into a different role such as a “root port” role with forwarding state, or a “blocked port” role with a blocking state, and if the port is protected by root guard, then the port is moved into the “root inconsistent” state, as shown at entry902of port state table900. The message age timer is started as soon as the “root inconsistent” state is entered at block10,004, and it is restarted each time a BPDU is received, which confirms the wrong role of the port. If the message age timer expires as at transition10,006, then the port can leave the “root inconsistent” state and start the role negotiation again from the listening state of role negotiation at block10,008.

If for any reason the root guard protection is disabled while a port is in the “root inconsistent” state, then the port restarts from the listening state of role negotiation at block10,008. Disabling the root guard feature does not effect ports which are not in the root inconsistent state.

A pseudo code description of the process for establishing Root Guard for a port follows.End User InterfaceSyntaxThe new command required to enforce the root guard on a port is:Set spantree rootguard <enable/disable> <mod/port>DescriptionCommand to show the state of the featureDefault valueRootguard is disabled by default.Syntaxshow spantree rootguard [ <mod/port> I <vlan> ]DescriptionThe show span tree rootguard command is added to existing code because the old command “show span tree” itself does not have facility to show root guard settings.The indicated syntax includes the meaning that it is possible to specify a port (or a list of ports) and it is possible to specify a VLAN, but it is not possible to specify both.The default VLAN is VLAN1and the default port list is “all the ports” in the specified or default VLAN.

EXAMPLE

A possible implementation to show the flag follows:

console> (enable) SPANTREE-4-ROOTGUARDUNBLOCK: port [mNo]/[pNo] restoredin vlan [vlanNo]SNMP and MIBAdd in a new MIB group in STP.EXTENSION.MIBstpxRootGuardConfigTable OBJECT-TYPESYNTAXSEQUENCE OF StpxRootGuardConfigEntryMAX-ACCESSnot-accessibleSTATUScurrentDESCRIPTION“A table containing a list of the ports for which Spanning Tree RootGuard capability isconfigured.”::= { stpxRootGuardObjects 1 }stpxRootGuardConfigEntry OBJECT-TYPESYNTAXStpxRootGuardConfigEntryMAX-ACCESSnot-accessibleSTATUScurrentDESCRIPTION“A port for which Spanning Tree RootGuard capability is configured.”INDEX { stpxRootGuardConfigPortIndex }::= { stpxRootGuardConfigTable 1 }StpxRootGuardConfigEntry ::= SEQUENCE {stpxRootGuardConfigPortIndexINTEGER,stpxRootGuardConfigEnabledTruth Value}stpxRootGuardConfigPortIndex OBJECT-TYPESYNTAXINTEGER (1..65535)MAX-ACCESSnot-accessibleSTATUScurrentDESCRIPTION“The value of dot1dBasePort (i.e. dot1dBridge.1.4) for the bridge port.”REFERENCE“dot1dBasePort is defined in RFC1493.”::= { stpxRootGuardConfigEntry 1 }stpxRootGuardConfigEnabled OBJECT-TYPESYNTAXTruth ValueMAX-ACCESSread-writeSTATUScurrentDESCRIPTION“An indication of whether the RootGuard capability is enabled on this port or not.”DEFVAL { false }::= { stpxRootGuardConfigEntry 2 }stpxRootInconsistencyTable OBJECT-TYPESYNTAXSEQUENCE OF StpxRootInconsistencyEntryMAX-ACCESSnot-accessibleSTATUScurrentDESCRIPTION“A table containing a list of the ports for which a particular VLAN's Spanning Tree hasbeen found to have a root-inconsistency.”::= { stpxRootGuardObjects 2 }stpxRootInconsistencyEntry OBJECT-TYPESYNTAXStpxRootInconsistencyEntryMAX-ACCESSnot-accessibleSTATUScurrentDESCRIPTION“A VLAN on a particular port for which a Spanning Tree root-inconsistency iscurrently in effect.”INDEX { stpxRootInconsistencyVlanIdex,stpxRootInconsistencyPortIndex }::= { stpxRootInconsistencyTable 1 }StpxRootInconsistencyEntry ::= SEQUENCE {stpxRootInconsistencyVlanIndexVlanIndex,stpxRootInconsistencyportIndexINTEGER,stpxRootInconsistencyStateTruth Value}stpxRootInconsistencyVlanIndex OBJECT-TYPESYNTAXVlanIndexMAX-ACCESSnot-accessibleSTATUScurrentDESCRIPTION“The VLAN id of the VLAN.”::= { stpxRootInconsistencyEntry 1 }stpxRootInconsistencyPortIndex OBJECT-TYPESYNTAXINTEGER (1..65535)MAX-ACCESSnot-accessibleSTATUScurrentDESCRIPTION“The value of dot1dBasePort (i.e. dot1dBridge.1.4) for the bridge port.”REFERENCE“dot1dBasePort is defined in RFC1493.”::= { stpxRootInconsistencyEntry 2 }stpxRootInconsistencyState OBJECT-TYPESYNTAXTruth ValueMAX-ACCESSread-onlySTATUScurrentDESCRIPTION“Indicates whether a port on a particular VLAN is currently in root-inconsistent stateor not.”::= { stpxRootInconsistencyEntry 3 }Add in a notification for root inconsistency state changesstpxRootInconsistencyUpdate NOTIFICATION-TYPEOBJECTS{ stpxRootInconsistencyState }STATUScurrentDESCRIPTION“A stpxRootInconsistencyUpdate notification is sent by a bridge when an instance ofstpxRootInconsistencyState is created or destroyed. That is, when an root-inconsistency isdiscovered in the VLAN's Spanning Tree for a particular port, or when such a root-inconsistency disappears.”::= { stpxNotificationsPrefix 2 }Add in conformance statementsstpxMIBCompliance3MODULE-COMPLIANCESTATUScurrentDESCRIPTION“The compliance statement for entities which implement STP Extensions MIB.”MODULE --this module-- no MANDATORY-GROUPSGROUPstpxRootGuardGroupDESCRIPTION “This group is mandatory for implementations of the RootGuardcapability.”GROUPstpxRootInconsistencyNotificationsGroupDESCRIPTION“The notifications which a STP extension implementationrequired to implement.”::= { stpxMIBCompliances 3 }Add in 2 units of conformancestpxRootGuardGroup OBJECT-GROUPOBJECTS{StpxRootGuardConfigEnabled,StpxRootInconsistencyState}STATUScurrentDESCRIPTION“A collection of objects to support root guard capabilities.”::= { stpxMIBGroups 6 }stpxRootInconsistencyNotificationsGroup NOTIFICATION-GROUPNOTIFICATIONS{ stpxRootInconsistencyUpdate }STATUScurrentDESCRIPTION“The notifications which a STP root guard implementation is required toimplement.”::= { stpxMIBGroups 7 }

Turning now toFIG. 11, block diagram11,000of a representative hardware structure for internal operation of a Layer 2 switch is shown. Each linecard11,002,11,004, . . .11,008supports a port. For example, linecard11,002has port11,002A; linecard11,004has port11,004A; linecard11,006has port11,006A, . . . and linecard11,008has port11,008A, etc. Each linecard has a memory unit. For example, linecard11,002has memory unit11,002M, linecard11,004has memory unit11,004M, linecard11,006has memory unit11,006M . . . and linecard11,008has memory unit11,008M, etc. Each line card has a processor P, indicated by blocks11,002P,11,004P,11,006P, . . .11,008P, etc. The various linecards are interconnected by switch fabric11,010. Switch fabric11,010may be, for example, a crossbar type switch fabric, an ATM based switch fabric, or may be simply a computer bus. A central processor unit forwarding engine11,012also attaches to switch fabric11,010. In operation, a packet arrives at a port of a linecard and is transferred by switch fabric11,010to memory units in the required linecards. Ports604,606,608,610,612,614,618, etc. are implemented on linecards11,002, through11,008etc.

Further, CPU control engine11,030attaches to switch fabric11,010. CPU control engine11,030is used to execute various control protocols for the network device. For example, CPU control engine11,030may be used to execute the Spanning Tree Protocol, the Link State Routing Protocol, the Root Guard protocol, the OSPF protocol, the IGRP protocol, the EIGRP protocol, etc. Execution of a process in a CPU is often referred to as “running” the process. Data read from various fields of a received packets are transferred to CPU control engine11,030. Then CPU control engine exercises control of the network device through switch fabric11,010, through control lines not shown inFIG. 11, etc. CPU control engine11,030may execute the software to implement the spanning tree protocol, and the process of the invention as illustrated in the flow chart ofFIG. 8. Alternatively, the processes of the spanning tree protocol and the process of the flow chart ofFIG. 8may be executed, in whole or in part, in the processors on the linecards, processors11,002P, through11,008P, etc.

For example, in the event that a packet is received from an external connection at port11,002A, the packet arrives at port11,002A, is stored in memory unit11,002M, and is simultaneously transmitted on switch fabric11,010to all of the other linecards, where the packet is stored in the memory unit of each of the other linecards. The memory11,002M in the receiving linecard is necessary as a buffer in the event that switch fabric11,010is busy at the time that the packet arrives at port11,002A. Processors11,002P,11,004P,11,006P, . . .11,008P, etc. on each linecard receive information from circuits on the linecard interpreting fields of the packets as the packet is being received.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, processors11,002P,11,004P,11,006P, . . .11,008P, etc. on the individual linecards act as forwarding engines and make decisions concerning the ports through which the packet is to be transmitted.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment of a Layer 2 switch, as the packet is being transferred on switch fabric11,010to all of the other linecards, fields of the packet are interpreted by circuitry in the receiving linecard, information is transferred to CPU forwarding engine11,012, and CPU11,012makes decisions concerning which ports the packet is to be transmitted out through. Once CPU11,012makes a decision as to which ports the packet should be forwarded through, CPU11,012asserts control lines (not shown inFIG. 11) which grant permission to the appropriate linecards to transmit the packet out through that linecard's port.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a linecard may support a plurality of ports rather than only one port as is shown inFIG. 11. Three dots11,009indicate that a large number of linecards may be supported by the Layer 2 switch.

The exemplary internal architecture of a typical Layer 2 switch as shown in block diagram11,000permits line speed transfer of an incoming packet to one or more outgoing ports, simultaneously with receipt of the packet. Only a small delay is encountered, depending upon factors, for example, the state of switch fabric11,010as the packet is received at its incoming port, and the delay imposed by ordinary switch fabric transfer processes along switch fabric11,010.

In an alternative exemplary design of a Layer 2 switch, a linecard may transfer an incoming packet to global memory unit11,020. CPU11,012reads fields of the packet and decides which linecards must transmit the packet. After the packet is received into global memory11,020, the packet is read by each linecard which must transmit the packet, and then the packet is transmitted by the linecards. In either event, the hardware reads the fields of the appropriate Layer, and responds by making the appropriate decision.

It is to be understood that the above described embodiments are simply illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various other modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art which embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.