Layer 3 switching logic architecture in an integrated network switch
First Claim
1. A method in an integrated network switch having a switching module, the integrated network switch configured for switching a layer 2 packet, the method comprising:
- determining whether the layer 2 packet includes prescribed layer 3 packet information;
selectively performing layer 3 switching based on the determined presence of the prescribed layer 3 packet information, including determining a switching operation based on at least one of a layer 3 source address and a layer 3 destination address, including;
(1) determining a presence of a subnetwork identifier within the prescribed layer 3 packet information,(2) searching a first table, configured for storing switching entries for respective Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, for a corresponding switching entry storing the layer 3 destination address, and(3) selectively searching a second table, configured for storing switching entries for respective prescribed subnetwork identifiers, for a corresponding switching entry storing the subnetwork identifier, the selectively searching being performed based on a determined absence of the corresponding switching entry storing the layer 3 destination address; and
selectively performing layer 2 switching based on the determined absence of the prescribed layer 3 packet information.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
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 (specifically Internet Protocol) switching operations, and a plurality of network switch ports, each configured for connecting the network switch to a corresponding subnetwork. The switching module includes address tables for storing address information (e.g., layer 2 and layer 3 address and switching information). The network switching module is configured for performing prescribed layer 3 switching that enables transfer of data packets between subnetworks, bypassing a router that normally would need to manage Internet protocol switching between subnetworks of the network. Hence, the network switch performs Internet Protocol switching for intranetwork (i.e., inter-subnetwork) traffic, improving efficiency of the router by enabling the router resources to support more subnetworks.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A method in an integrated network switch having a switching module, the integrated network switch configured for switching a layer 2 packet, the method comprising:
-
determining whether the layer 2 packet includes prescribed layer 3 packet information; selectively performing layer 3 switching based on the determined presence of the prescribed layer 3 packet information, including determining a switching operation based on at least one of a layer 3 source address and a layer 3 destination address, including; (1) determining a presence of a subnetwork identifier within the prescribed layer 3 packet information, (2) searching a first table, configured for storing switching entries for respective Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, for a corresponding switching entry storing the layer 3 destination address, and (3) selectively searching a second table, configured for storing switching entries for respective prescribed subnetwork identifiers, for a corresponding switching entry storing the subnetwork identifier, the selectively searching being performed based on a determined absence of the corresponding switching entry storing the layer 3 destination address; and selectively performing layer 2 switching based on the determined absence of the prescribed layer 3 packet information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An integrated network switch having a switching module comprising:
-
an evaluation module configured for evaluating a presence of layer 3 packet information within a received layer 2 packet, the evaluation module configured for identifying selected layer 3 switching functions to be perfomed based on the determined presence of prescribed data within the layer 3 packet information; an address table configured for storing switching entries, each switching entry configured for storing a layer 2 network address, a layer 3 network address, and corresponding switching information; a subnetwork table configured for storing switching entries for respective prescribed subnetwork identifiers; an address lookup module configured for searching the switching entries based on at least one of the layer 3 packet information and layer 2 address information in the received layer 2 packet, the address lookup module configured for selectively determining a presence of a subnetwork identifier within the layer 3 packet information, and searching the subnetwork table for a corresponding switching entry storing the subnetwork identifier, based on a determined absence of the corresponding switching entry storing the layer 3 network address in the address table; and an output module configured for generating a switching decision based on the searching of the switching entries by the address lookup module and the evaluation of the presence of layer 3 packet information. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification