Virtual Ethernet Stack via Network Tunnels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Ethernet stacks require direct physical connectivity among switches to manage them as a single unit, limiting their flexibility and independence, as they are dependent on the location of individual switches.
Innovation Solution
A virtual Ethernet stack system that connects multiple Ethernet switches using tunnels over a network, allowing them to operate as a single unit sharing network features like IP addresses, regardless of their location, using distributed switching architecture and tunneling protocols to create a unified management system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If direct physical connectivity is required among Ethernet switches to manage them as a single unit, then management unity is achieved, but network flexibility and scalability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces tunneling protocols as an intermediary mechanism that enables logical connectivity between geographically dispersed Ethernet switches. The tunneling protocol acts as a mediator that encapsulates and transports management traffic over public or private networks, allowing switches to be managed as a unified stack without requiring direct physical connections. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining management unity while eliminating the constraint of direct physical connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the connectivity model from a single-dimensional physical connection requirement to a multi-dimensional approach where switches can be connected through various network paths (public internet, private networks, VPNs). By adding the dimension of logical/network-layer connectivity, the system achieves both management unity and geographic flexibility, resolving the contradiction between physical connectivity requirements and network adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If Ethernet switches are located remotely from each other, then network scalability is improved, but direct physical connection capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The tunneling protocol serves as a reliable intermediary that establishes stable logical connections between remotely located switches. By encapsulating management traffic in tunnel packets with sequence numbers, acknowledgments, and error checking mechanisms, the system maintains connection reliability over unstable or variable network paths, enabling geographic distribution without sacrificing connection stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preemptive measures to ensure connection reliability before issues occur. The tunneling protocol includes built-in error detection, retransmission mechanisms, and connection state monitoring that cushion against network failures, packet loss, or instability. This allows the system to maintain reliable connections across geographically dispersed locations by preparing for and mitigating potential connection issues in advance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If tunnels are used to connect Ethernet switches over a network, then physical location independence is achieved, but protocol complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tunneling protocol is designed with universal functionality that handles multiple tasks within a unified framework. It simultaneously provides connection establishment, data encapsulation, error checking, retransmission, and location independence through a single protocol mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate complex subsystems, making the overall implementation more manageable despite the advanced capabilities required for location-independent operation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If Ethernet switches are managed as a single unit over tunnels, then network feature sharing is improved, but management overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple Ethernet switches into a unified virtual stack that is managed as a single logical unit. By combining the management interfaces and control planes of individual switches into a centralized virtual management entity, the system enables network feature sharing (such as VLANs, QoS policies, and security settings) across all member switches through a single configuration interface. This merging reduces the time required for management operations compared to configuring each switch individually, despite the underlying complexity of tunnel-based communication.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to virtual Ethernet switches. In some implementations, a system includes two or more Ethernet switches. Two or more components are included in the system to open at least one tunnel, over a network, between the two or more Ethernet switches to connect the two or more Ethernet switches together. In addition, two or more components are included in the system to operate a protocol over the opened at least one tunnel to manage the two or more Ethernet switches as a single unit that shares at least one network feature among all of the two or more Ethernet switches.