Integrated Router Switch Automatic VLAN Trunk Creation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional segregated router-managed switch systems require users to manually configure IEEE 802.1Q VLAN trunks, which is time-consuming and error-prone, especially as the number of user terminals and VLANs increases, leading to inefficiencies in network connectivity.
Innovation Solution
An integrated router and switch fabric architecture automatically creates IEEE 802.1Q virtual local area network (VLAN) trunks through software, eliminating the need for user-configurable physical links and allowing the router's control processor to generate VLAN interfaces with reduced command inputs, thereby simplifying the configuration process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual configuration of IEEE 802.1Q VLAN trunks is used in conventional segregated router-managed switch systems, then connectivity between LAN and WAN can be established, but the configuration process becomes time-consuming and error-prone as the number of user terminals and VLANs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The router control processor automatically creates and configures IEEE 802.1Q VLAN trunks without requiring manual user configuration. The system performs self-service by detecting VLANs on the switch fabric port and automatically establishing the corresponding trunk links to the WAN interface, eliminating the time-consuming manual configuration process while maintaining proper connectivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures the VLAN trunk parameters and settings before actual traffic needs to flow. The router control processor proactively creates the VLAN trunk interfaces and applies the necessary 802.1Q tagging configurations in advance, so that when VLANs are created on the switch fabric, the trunk connectivity is already prepared and immediately available
2Reliability
If manual configuration of IEEE 802.1Q VLAN trunks is performed, then network connectivity can be established, but the error rate increases particularly as the number of VLANs and user terminals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The router control processor automatically detects VLANs created on the switch fabric port and self-configures the corresponding IEEE 802.1Q trunk parameters, eliminating manual configuration errors. The system reads VLAN information directly from the switch fabric and automatically applies correct 802.1Q tagging, VLAN IDs, and interface mappings, ensuring configuration accuracy even as the number of VLANs and user terminals increases
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the router control processor continuously monitors the switch fabric for VLAN creation events and automatically responds by configuring the corresponding trunk interfaces. This closed-loop approach ensures that any VLAN created on the network is automatically reflected in the trunk configuration, maintaining synchronization and eliminating configuration drift or errors
3Adaptability or versatility
If user-configurable physical links are used between switch fabric and router, then flexibility in configuration is provided, but the system complexity and configuration overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the VLAN trunk configuration functionality from the physical link layer and implements it as a virtual software-based trunk in the router control processor. Instead of requiring users to configure physical Ethernet ports and manual 802.1Q trunks, the system creates a virtual trunk interface that is automatically populated with VLAN information from the switch fabric, simplifying the physical layer while maintaining configuration flexibility through software
Solution Approach 2:
The router control processor implements a universal VLAN trunk creation mechanism that automatically handles multiple VLANs across different user terminals through a single automated process. The system provides multi-functionality by supporting any number of VLANs, user terminals, and trunk configurations through the same automated 802.1Q trunk creation logic, eliminating the need for separate manual configuration procedures for each VLAN or terminal
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated processor-controlled router and switch fabric architecture provides connectivity between local area network (LAN) ports serving a plurality of local area network users and a wide area network (WAN) port that provides connectivity with the internet. IEEE 802.1Q virtual local area network (VLAN) trunks are automatically created by the processor in response to a reduced set of command inputs. No user-configurable physical link exists between the switch fabric and the router. Instead, a virtual IEEE 802.1Q trunk is created through software to provide connectivity between the switch fabric and the router's control processor.