US 12,413,550 B2
Media access control (MAC) address assignment for virtual network interface cards (VNICS)
Kejia Cui, Beijing (CN); Lele Zhang, Beijing (CN); Qi Wu, Beijing (CN); Donghai Han, Beijing (CN); and Honggang Liu, Beijing (CN)
Assigned to VMware LLC, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed by VMware LLC, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 6, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/105,880.
Claims priority of application No. PCT/CN2022/139870 (WO), filed on Dec. 19, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0205184 A1, Jun. 20, 2024
Int. Cl. H04L 61/50 (2022.01); H04L 45/00 (2022.01); H04L 101/622 (2022.01)
CPC H04L 61/50 (2022.05) [H04L 45/66 (2013.01); H04L 2101/622 (2022.05)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for a first computer system to perform media access control (MAC) address assignment, wherein the method comprises:
determining a first MAC address portion that is uniquely associated with the first computer system within a network environment that includes the first computer system, and multiple second computer systems that are uniquely associated with respective multiple second MAC address portions;
assigning a first virtual network interface card (VNIC) with a first MAC address that includes (a) the first MAC address portion, and (b) a third MAC address portion that is uniquely associated with the first VNIC on the first computer system; and
assigning a second VNIC with a second MAC address that includes (a) the first MAC address portion, and (b) a fourth MAC address portion that is uniquely associated with the second VNIC on the first computer system; and
performing traffic handling by forwarding first packets specifying the first MAC address assigned to the first VNIC, or second packets specifying the second MAC address assigned to the second VNIC.