Patent ID: 8848508

Claim:
A computer implemented method for providing anycast virtual media access control (MAC) reachability in an extended subnet comprising a first layer 2 subnet and a second layer 2 subnet connected through a first bridge device on the first layer 2 subnet and a second bridge device on the second layer 2 subnet, wherein the first layer 2 subnet includes a first gateway connecting the first layer 2 subnet to a first IP network, and wherein the second layer 2 subnet includes a second gateway connecting the second layer 2 subnet to a second IP network, comprising: determining, at the first bridge device, a gateway MAC address associated with both a local port of the first bridge device and a LAN extension port of the first bridge device, wherein the first gateway is reachable within the first layer 2 subnet at the gateway MAC address using the local port, and wherein the second gateway is reachable within the first layer 2 subnet at the gateway MAC address using the LAN extension port; receiving, from a host in the first layer 2 subnet, a network frame specifying the gateway MAC address as a destination address; and selectively forwarding the received network frame to one of (i) the first gateway using the local port or (ii) the second gateway using the LAN extension port, based at least in part on the destination address.