Method and apparatus for implementing forwarding decision shortcuts at a network switch
First Claim
1. A method for implementing forwarding decision shortcuts at a switch for packets routed between subnetworks of a computer network, the method comprising the steps of:
- rendering, at a router, a forwarding decision for routing a first frame of a particular type over the network;
establishing a shortcut entry in a shortcut table of the switch using information contained in a network layer header of a first packet encapsulated within the first frame;
receiving a subsequent frame of the particular type at the switch;
determining whether the shortcut entry has been established for a subsequent packet of the subsequent frame; and
if so,implementing a forwarding decision shortcut for the subsequent packet at the switch based upon contents of the shortcut entry;
wherein the shortcut entry contains a pointer between a medium access control address and the information contained in the network layer header of the first packet encapsulated within the first frame.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shortcut technique implements forwarding decision shortcuts at a switch for frames routed between subnetworks of a computer network. The switch monitors the flow of a first frame of a particular type to and from the router, which renders a forwarding decision for routing the frame. The switch records information stored in network layer header of a packet encapsulated within the first frame, and then compares that information with the information stored in network layer headers of packets contained within subsequent frames of that particular type. Forwarding decisions for these subsequent frames are then rendered by hardware logic circuits of the switch rather than by the router.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for implementing forwarding decision shortcuts at a switch for packets routed between subnetworks of a computer network, the method comprising the steps of:
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rendering, at a router, a forwarding decision for routing a first frame of a particular type over the network; establishing a shortcut entry in a shortcut table of the switch using information contained in a network layer header of a first packet encapsulated within the first frame; receiving a subsequent frame of the particular type at the switch; determining whether the shortcut entry has been established for a subsequent packet of the subsequent frame; and
if so,implementing a forwarding decision shortcut for the subsequent packet at the switch based upon contents of the shortcut entry; wherein the shortcut entry contains a pointer between a medium access control address and the information contained in the network layer header of the first packet encapsulated within the first frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A switch for implementing forwarding decision shortcuts for frames routed between subnetworks of a computer network, a forwarding decision for a first packet of a first frame being rendered by a router, the switch comprising:
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a forwarding table containing information specifying whether a medium access control (MAC) address of the frame identifies a special destination, the forwarding table further containing information specifying a pointer between the MAC address and network layer flow information contained in the frame; a forwarding engine coupled to the forwarding table and configured to access the forwarding table to determine whether a subsequent packet of a subsequent frame is a candidate for a forwarding decision shortcut; a shortcut table containing the flow information; and a shortcut engine coupled to the shortcut table and forwarding engine, the shortcut engine configured to access the shortcut table to one of insert a candidate entry into the shortcut table and establish a shortcut entry in the shortcut table. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for implementing forwarding decision shortcuts at a switch for packets of a particular type routed between subnetworks of a computer network, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a candidate packet of the particular type at the switch; inserting predetermined information pertaining to the candidate packet into a shortcut table of the switch; passing the candidate packet from the switch to a router; rendering, at the router, a forwarding decision for the candidate packet; passing the candidate packet from the router to the switch as an enable packet of the particular type; comparing the inserted information with respective predetermined information pertaining to the enable packet; if the information matches, establishing a shortcut entry in the shortcut table; receiving a subsequent packet of the particular type at the switch; determining whether the shortcut entry has been established for the subsequent packet; and
if so,routing the subsequent packet from the switch over the network based upon contents of the shortcut entry; wherein the shortcut entry contains a pointer between a medium access control address and information contained in a network layer header of the subsequent packet. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification