REDUCING PROLIFERATION OF NETWORK-TO-NETWORK-LINK-LAYER ADDRESS RESOLUTION MESSAGES

摘要

In one embodiment, the processing by a packet switching device of a received network-tolink- layer address resolution request message (e.g., Address Resolution Protocol [ARP] Request message, Neighbor Discovery Protocol [NDP] Neighbor Solicitation message) is dependent upon whether or not its target IP address corresponds to a network gateway packet switching device. When the target IP address of a received ARP Request/NDP Neighbor Solicita$on message corresponds to a network gateway, then the picket switching device responds effectively on behalf of the network gateway, rather than forwarding the message to the network gateway. When the target IP address of a received ARP RequestfNDP Neighbor solicitation message does not correspond to a network gateway and the Media Access Control (MAC) address corresponding to the target IP address is known, then the packet switching device transforms then sends the broadcast or multicast frame encapsulating the ARP Request/ NDP Neighbor Solicitation message into a unicast h e addressed to the MAC address corresponding to the target IP address.