Cabletron's SecureFast VLAN Operational Model
RFC 2643

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Network Working Group                                          D. Ruffen
Request for Comments: 2643                                        T. Len
Category: Informational                                       J. Yanacek
                                          Cabletron Systems Incorporated
                                                             August 1999

             Cabletron's SecureFast VLAN Operational Model
                              Version 1.8

Status of this Memo

   This memo provides information for the Internet community.  It does
   not specify an Internet standard of any kind.  Distribution of this
   memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1999).  All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

   Cabletron's SecureFast VLAN (SFVLAN) product implements a distributed
   connection-oriented switching protocol that provides fast forwarding
   of data packets at the MAC layer.  The product uses the concept of
   virtual LANs (VLANs) to determine the validity of call connection
   requests and to scope the broadcast of certain flooded messages.

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction.............................................  3
      1.1 Data Conventions.....................................  3
      1.2 Definitions of Commonly Used Terms...................  4
   2. SFVLAN Overview..........................................  6
      2.1 Features.............................................  7
      2.2 VLAN Principles......................................  8
          2.2.1 Default, Base and Inherited VLANs..............  8
          2.2.2 VLAN Configuration Modes.......................  8
                2.2.2.1 Endstations............................  8
                2.2.2.2 Ports..................................  9
                2.2.2.3 Order of Precedence....................  9
          2.2.3 Ports with Multiple VLAN Membership............ 10
      2.3 Tag/Length/Value Method of Addressing................ 10
      2.4 Architectural Overview............................... 11
   3. Base Services............................................ 13
   4. Call Processing.......................................... 14
      4.1 Directory Service Center............................. 14
          4.1.1 Local Add Server............................... 15

Ruffen, et al.               Informational                      [Page 1]
RFC 2643     Cabletron's SecureFast VLAN Operational Model   August 1999

          4.1.2 Inverse Resolve Server......................... 15
          4.1.3 Local Delete Server............................ 18
      4.2 Topology Service Center.............................. 18
          4.2.1 Neighbor Discovery Server...................... 18
          4.2.2 Spanning Tree Server........................... 18
                4.2.2.1 Creating and Maintaining
                                   the Spanning Tree........... 19
                4.2.2.2 Remote Blocking........................ 19
          4.2.3 Link State Server.............................. 20
      4.3 Resolve Service Center............................... 21
          4.3.1 Table Server................................... 22
          4.3.2 Local Server................................... 22
          4.3.3 Subnet Server.................................. 22
          4.3.4 Interswitch Resolve Server..................... 22
          4.3.5 Unresolvable Server............................ 23
          4.3.6 Block Server................................... 23
      4.4 Policy Service Center................................ 24
          4.4.1 Unicast Rules Server........................... 24
      4.5 Connect Service Center............................... 25
          4.5.1 Local Server................................... 25
          4.5.2 Link State Server.............................. 25
          4.5.3 Directory Server............................... 26
      4.6 Filter Service Center................................ 26
      4.7 Path Service Center.................................. 26
          4.7.1 Link State Server.............................. 26
          4.7.2 Spanning Tree Server........................... 27
      4.8 Flood Service Center................................. 27
          4.8.1 Tag-Based Flood Server......................... 27
   5. Monitoring Call Connections.............................. 27
      5.1 Definitions.......................................... 27
      5.2 Tapping a Connection................................. 28
          5.2.1 Types of Tap Connections....................... 28
          5.2.2 Locating the Probe and Establishing
                                   the Tap Connection.......... 29
          5.2.3 Status Field................................... 30
      5.3 Untapping a Connection............................... 31
   6. Interswitch Message Protocol (ISMP)...................... 32
      6.1 General Packet Structure............................. 32