This applies in particular to large next-generation metro and core networks, which will in many cases be implemented as pure Ethernet or VPLS / H-VPLS (Hierarchical VPLS) networks, see e.g.L.
Clause 17.11).The MAC address table re-learning is a scenario which is similar to adding a new node with empty MAC address table to a network: Dependent on the size of the network, hundreds of thousands of new MAC addresses may have to be learned. due to a network failure), parts of the MAC address tables in the affected nodes / switches have to be flushed in order to allow for fast relearning of the forwarding databases (cf.
In case of a Spanning Tree re-configuration (e.g. Because of this simple broadcast / self-learning routing architecture, Ethernet is dependent on a loop-free network topology, which is ensured by the Spanning Tree Protocol, see Clause 17 of the above-mentioned document. In the routing algorithm, unknown destination packets are flooded over the entire network, see also IEEE 802.1 D-2004, Media Access Control (MAC) Bridges, Clause 7, June 2004. Baran, "On Distributed Communication Networks", IEEE Transactions on Communications Systems, Vol. Moreover, Ethernet networks are nowadays not only based on the traditional wireline IEEE 802.3 technology, but also on wireless access like Bluetooth, Wireless LAN, and WiMAX.Ethernet routing is done by backward learning first described byP. in access networks based on Virtual Private LAN Services (VPLS), as well as in metro and core networks.
The invention further relates to a switch, in particular to an Ethernet switch, comprising: a processing unit for processing learning requests for learning MAC addresses of forward flows, and to a computer network comprising at least one such switch.The increase in packet data traffic has led to a high popularity of Ethernet based networks, e.g. Background of the InventionThe invention relates to a method for learning Media Access Control, MAC, addresses as well as to a computer program product for implementing the method.