Cascading of gigabit switches
First Claim
1. A method of handling data packets in a series of network switches, the method comprising:
- receiving an incoming data packet at a data port of a first switch of the series of network switches, the incoming data packet including a resolved module ID bitmap;
determining if a bit of the resolved module ID bitmap corresponding to the first switch is set;
determining a destination address of the incoming data packet when the corresponding bit is set;
forwarding or dropping the incoming data packet based on the destination address when the corresponding bit is set; and
conducting normal address resolution logic (ARL) if the corresponding bit is determined to be set and flipping the corresponding bit in the module ID bitmap.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of handling data packets in a series of network switches includes receiving an incoming data packet at a data port of a first switch of the series of network switches. A module id bitmap of the incoming data packet is resolved and a bit corresponding to the first switch of the module id bitmap is examined to determine if the bit is set. A destination address of the incoming data packet is resolved when the corresponding bit is set and the incoming data packet is forwarded or dropped based on the destination address. When the corresponding bit is not set, the incoming data packet is forwarded to a next switch of the series of network switches. A network switch configured to allow for cascading of data packets is also disclosed.
111 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method of handling data packets in a series of network switches, the method comprising:
-
receiving an incoming data packet at a data port of a first switch of the series of network switches, the incoming data packet including a resolved module ID bitmap; determining if a bit of the resolved module ID bitmap corresponding to the first switch is set; determining a destination address of the incoming data packet when the corresponding bit is set; forwarding or dropping the incoming data packet based on the destination address when the corresponding bit is set; and conducting normal address resolution logic (ARL) if the corresponding bit is determined to be set and flipping the corresponding bit in the module ID bitmap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A network switch in a series of network switches comprising:
-
means for receiving an incoming data packet through a data port of a first switch of the series of network switches; means for resolving a module ID bitmap of the incoming data packet and determining if a bit corresponding to the first switch of the module ID bitmap is set; means for resolving a destination address of the incoming data packet when the corresponding bit is set and forwarding or dropping the incoming data packet based on the destination address; means for forwarding the incoming data packet to a next switch of the series of network switches when the corresponding bit is not set; and means for conducting normal address resolution logic (ARL) if the corresponding bit is determined to be set and flipping the corresponding bit in the module ID bitmap. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A series of network switches, wherein one switch in the series of network switches comprises:
-
first and second transmitting and receiving data port interfaces; and a memory management unit communicating data from the first data port interface and the second data port interface and a memory on a communication channel, wherein the second data port interface is interconnected with other network switches of the series via a simplex connection and is configured to; resolve a module ID bitmap from a header of an incoming data packet; forward the incoming data packet over the simplex interconnection based on the resolved module ID; and conduct normal address resolution logic (ARL) if the corresponding bit is determined to be set and flip the corresponding bit in the module ID bitmap. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification