Configuring ethernet elements via ethernet local management interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9331905-B1
Application number	US-201414328142-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 10, 2014
Priority date	Jul 10, 2014
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

Examples disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and software to establish service configurations via Ethernet Local Management Interface. In one example, a method of operating a communication system to configure Ethernet elements includes, in a request Ethernet element, determining identification data based on a media access control (MAC) address and a virtual local area network (VLAN) for the requesting Ethernet element. The method further provides, in the requesting Ethernet element, transferring, via Ethernet Local Management Interface (E-LMI), the identification data to a receiving Ethernet element. The method also includes, in the receiving Ethernet element, receiving the identification information, transferring a service configuration request based on the identification information to a configuration management system, and receiving a service configuration from the configuration management system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a communication system to configure Ethernet elements, the method comprising:
in a requesting Ethernet element, determining identification data based on a media access control (MAC) address and a virtual local area network (VLAN) for the requesting Ethernet element;
in the requesting Ethernet element, transferring, via Ethernet Local Management Interface (E-LMI), the identification data to a receiving Ethernet element;
in the receiving Ethernet element, receiving the identification information;
in the receiving Ethernet element, transferring a service configuration request based on the identification information to a configuration management system; and
in the receiving Ethernet element, receiving a service configuration from the configuration management system, wherein the service configuration comprises a configuration based on a quality of service for the requesting Ethernet element, and wherein the service configuration comprises an Internet Protocol address configuration for the requesting Ethernet element.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the requesting Ethernet element comprises a customer edge router.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the receiving Ethernet element comprises a provider edge router.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the requesting Ethernet element and the receiving Ethernet element comprise virtual machines.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
in the receiving Ethernet element, implementing the service configuration for the requesting Ethernet element.

6. A communication system to configure Ethernet elements, the communication system comprising:
a requesting Ethernet element configured to:
determine identification data based on a media access control (MAC) address and a virtual local area network (VLAN) for the requesting Ethernet element; and
transfer, via Ethernet Local Management Interface (E-LMI), the identification data to a receiving Ethernet element; and

the receiving Ethernet element configured to:
receive the identification information;
transfer a service configuration request based on the identification information to a configuration management system; and
receive a service configuration from the configuration management system, wherein the service configuration comprises a configuration based on a quality of service for the requesting Ethernet element, and wherein the service configuration comprises an Internet Protocol address configuration for the requesting Ethernet element.

7. The communication system of claim 6 wherein the requesting Ethernet element comprises a customer edge router.

8. The communication network of claim 7 wherein the receiving Ethernet element comprises a provider edge router.

9. The communication network of claim 6 wherein the requesting Ethernet element and the receiving Ethernet element comprise virtual machines.

10. The communication network of claim 6 wherein the receiving Ethernet element is further configured to implement the service configuration for the requesting Ethernet element.

11. A computer apparatus to manage service configurations for Ethernet elements, the computer apparatus comprising:
processing instructions that direct a first Ethernet element, when executed by the first Ethernet element, to:
receive, via Ethernet Local Management Interface (E-LMI), identification information from a second Ethernet element, the identification information based on a media access control (MAC) address and a virtual local area network (VLAN) for the second Ethernet element;
transfer a service configuration request based on the identification information to a configuration management system; and
receive a service configuration from the configuration management system, wherein the service configuration comprises a configuration based on a quality of service for the second Ethernet element, and wherein the service configuration comprises an Internet Protocol address configuration for the second Ethernet element; and

one or more non-transitory computer readable media that store the processing instructions.

12. The computer apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first Ethernet element comprises a provider edge router.

13. The computer apparatus of claim 12 wherein the second Ethernet element comprises a customer edge router.

14. The computer apparatus of claim 11 wherein the processing instructions further direct the first Ethernet element to implement the service configuration for the second Ethernet element.

Assignees

• Sprint Communications Co
• Sprint Communications Co

Inventors

• Fiumano Michael Francis
• Hinkle Aaron Paul
• Gan Seng Chai

Classifications

• H04L41/0806 Primary

  for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play · CPC title

• H04L41/26

  using dedicated tools for LAN [Local Area Network] management · CPC title