High speed protocol for interconnecting modular network devices
First Claim
1. A network switch for network communications, said network switch comprising:
- a first data port interface, said first data port interface supporting at least one data port transmitting and receiving data at a first data rate;
a second data port interface, said second data port interface supporting at least one data port transmitting and receiving data at a second data rate;
a memory management unit for communicating data from at least one of said first data port interface and said second data port interface and a memory;
a communication channel, said communication channel for communicating data and messaging information between said first data port interface, said second data port interface, and said memory management unit; and
a plurality of lookup tables, said lookup tables including an address resolution lookup table, a VLAN table and module port table;
wherein said network switch has a unique module identifier, and wherein one of said first data port interface and said second data port interface is configured to determine forwarding information from a header for an incoming data packet received at a port of said one of said first data port interface and said second data port interface, and is configured to determine the forwarding information from the header and to determine a destination module identifier for a destination port for the data packet from the module port table.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network switch for network communications is disclosed. The switch includes a first data port interface, supporting at least one data port transmitting and receiving data at a first data rate and a second data port interface, supporting at least one data port transmitting and receiving data at a second data rate. A memory management unit for communicating data from at least one of the first data port interface and the second data port interface and a memory is also included. The switch uses a communication channel for communicating data and messaging information between the first data port interface, the second data port interface, and the memory management unit. The switch also has a plurality of lookup tables, including an address resolution lookup table, a VLAN table and module port table. The network switch has a unique module identifier and of the first data port interface and the second data port interface is configured to determine forwarding information from a header for an incoming data packet received at a port of the one data port interface. The port interfaces are configured to determine the forwarding information from the header and to determine a destination module identifier for a destination port for the data packet from the module port table.
84 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A network switch for network communications, said network switch comprising:
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a first data port interface, said first data port interface supporting at least one data port transmitting and receiving data at a first data rate;
a second data port interface, said second data port interface supporting at least one data port transmitting and receiving data at a second data rate;
a memory management unit for communicating data from at least one of said first data port interface and said second data port interface and a memory;
a communication channel, said communication channel for communicating data and messaging information between said first data port interface, said second data port interface, and said memory management unit; and
a plurality of lookup tables, said lookup tables including an address resolution lookup table, a VLAN table and module port table;
wherein said network switch has a unique module identifier, and wherein one of said first data port interface and said second data port interface is configured to determine forwarding information from a header for an incoming data packet received at a port of said one of said first data port interface and said second data port interface, and is configured to determine the forwarding information from the header and to determine a destination module identifier for a destination port for the data packet from the module port table. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of switching data in a network switch, said method comprising:
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receiving an incoming data packet at a first port of a switch;
reading a first packet portion, less than a full packet length, to determine particular packet information, said particular packet information including a source address and a destination address;
obtaining a destination port and a destination module identifier from a module port table based on said particular packet information;
comparing the destination module identifier with a unique module identifier for the network switch; and
sending the incoming data packet to the destination port. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A network switch comprising:
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means for receiving an incoming data packet at a first port of a switch;
means for reading a first packet portion, less than a full packet length, to determine particular packet information, said particular packet information including a source address and a destination address;
means for obtaining a destination port and a destination module identifier from a module port table based on said particular packet information;
means for comparing the destination module identifier with a unique module identifier for the network switch; and
means for sending the incoming data packet to the destination port. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification