Patent ID: 8594100

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a plurality of racks, wherein each rack of the plurality of racks includes a plurality of chassis, wherein each chassis of the plurality of chassis includes a plurality of server computers; and a distributed virtual bridge coupled to the plurality of server computers, wherein the distributed virtual bridge is coupled to a plurality of adapters, and wherein the distributed virtual bridge comprises: a plurality of bridge elements coupled to the plurality of server computers and configured to forward a data frame between the plurality of server computers to server computers of different racks of the plurality of racks, different chassis of the plurality of chassis, or any combination thereof; and a controlling bridge coupled to the plurality of bridge elements, the controlling bridge including a global forwarding table that includes address data accessible to the plurality of bridge elements, wherein at least one bridge element of the plurality of bridge elements is configured to send a query to the controlling bridge for information for forwarding the data frame.