Arrangement for controlling learning of layer 3 network addresses in a network switch
First Claim
1. A method in an integrated network switch having a plurality of network ports and a switching module, the switching module configured for learning network addresses of received data packets, the method comprising:
- identifying one of the network switch ports that transfer data packets between the integrated network switch and a router; and
disabling learning by the switching module of network addresses for the data packets having passed via the identified one network switch port.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network switch, configured for performing layer 2 and layer 3 switching in an Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) network without blocking of incoming data packets, includes a switching module for performing layer 2 and layer 3 switching operations, and a plurality of network switch ports, each configured for connecting the network switch to a corresponding subnetwork. One of the switch ports serves as a router interface port for transferring data packets between the network switch and a router. The network switch, configured for performing learning of layer 2 addresses and layer 3 addresses of the data packets, has a learning bit for each network switch port. A host network controller disables the learning bit for the router interface port in compliance with IEEE 802.1d, preventing the switching module from performing any learning of layer 2 or layer 3 addresses for the data packets transferred between the network switch and the router on the router interface port. Hence, the network switch can perform layer 3 switching operations for connected subnetworks, enabling the router to be bypassed; moreover, the disabling of the learning bit for the router interface port ensures that the router traffic does not over overwhelm the layer 2 and layer 3 address table within the network switch.
95 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method in an integrated network switch having a plurality of network ports and a switching module, the switching module configured for learning network addresses of received data packets, the method comprising:
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identifying one of the network switch ports that transfer data packets between the integrated network switch and a router; and disabling learning by the switching module of network addresses for the data packets having passed via the identified one network switch port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A network switch system comprising:
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an integrated network switch having a plurality of network switch ports and a switching module, the switching module configured for learning layer 2 and layer 3 network addresses of received data packets, wherein one of the network switch ports is configured for transferring data packets between the integrated network switch and a router; and a host controller configured for disabling learning of the layer 2 and layer 3 network addresses of any of the data packets transferred by the one network switch port, based on determining that the one network switch port transfers the data packets between the integrated network switch and the router. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification