Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

Multiple LAN emulation servers (LESs) and broadcast and unknown servers (BUSs) are employed to serve a single emulated LAN (ELAN). The LAN emulation clients (LECs) are assigned to sub-ELANs, each of which includes several LECs of the ELAN, e.g., those that are geographically close. Each such sub-ELAN includes its own LES and BUS. The LESs and BUSs of the sub-ELANs are connected so that the sub-ELANs form a single ELAN. The LESs/BUSs can be interconnected in any pattern that allows each LES/BUS to communicate with each other LES/BUS via at least one path, which need not be direct. The LES and BUS of each sub-ELAN presents themselves as proxy-LECs of the other sub-ELANs to which they are connected. The ELAN can include a LAN Emulation Configuration Server (LECS) for downloading the connection topology and forwarding rules to all the sub-ELANs. The topology and rules are downloaded each time the ELAN is configured, e.g., initially and when the network topology changes due to failures of servers or addition and deletion of servers.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim