Managing a global forwarding table in a distributed switch
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- adding an entry in a global forwarding table in a distributed switch, wherein the entry includes a multicast destination address and multicast membership information, wherein the distributed switch comprises distributed switch elements, wherein each distributed switch element comprises;
a plurality of switch forwarding units,a plurality of caches corresponding to the plurality of switch forwarding units, anda programming table corresponding to information programmed into the plurality of caches;
starting a timer for the entry;
when a miss event is generated by a first switch forwarding unit of the plurality of switch forwarding units that corresponds to a first distributed switch element of the distributed switch elements;
programming the first switch forwarding unit with the multicast destination address and corresponding multicast membership information; and
registering the multicast destination address and corresponding multicast membership information to create a registration, wherein the registering comprises storing the multicast destination address and corresponding multicast membership information in the programming table of the first distributed switch element, and wherein the registration includes a hit status;
in response to expiration of the timer of the entry, checking a hit status of a cache of each of the switch forwarding units of the distributed switch to determine whether any switch forwarding unit of the distributed switch has forwarded multicast data to the corresponding multicast membership information of the multicast destination address of the entry; and
determining whether the entry is a cast-out candidate based on checking the hit status.
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Abstract
Apparatuses and methods to manage a global forwarding table in a distributed switch are provided. A particular method may include managing a global forwarding table in a distributed switch. The distributed switch may include a plurality of switch forwarding units. The method may start a timer for an entry in the global forwarding table, and the entry may include a multicast destination address and corresponding multicast membership information. The method may also, in response to expiration of the timer of the entry, check at least one hit status to determine whether at least one switch forwarding unit of the plurality of switch forwarding units has forwarded multicast data to the corresponding multicast membership information of the multicast destination address of the entry. The method may further determine whether the entry is a cast-out candidate based on the hit status.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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adding an entry in a global forwarding table in a distributed switch, wherein the entry includes a multicast destination address and multicast membership information, wherein the distributed switch comprises distributed switch elements, wherein each distributed switch element comprises; a plurality of switch forwarding units, a plurality of caches corresponding to the plurality of switch forwarding units, and a programming table corresponding to information programmed into the plurality of caches; starting a timer for the entry; when a miss event is generated by a first switch forwarding unit of the plurality of switch forwarding units that corresponds to a first distributed switch element of the distributed switch elements; programming the first switch forwarding unit with the multicast destination address and corresponding multicast membership information; and registering the multicast destination address and corresponding multicast membership information to create a registration, wherein the registering comprises storing the multicast destination address and corresponding multicast membership information in the programming table of the first distributed switch element, and wherein the registration includes a hit status; in response to expiration of the timer of the entry, checking a hit status of a cache of each of the switch forwarding units of the distributed switch to determine whether any switch forwarding unit of the distributed switch has forwarded multicast data to the corresponding multicast membership information of the multicast destination address of the entry; and determining whether the entry is a cast-out candidate based on checking the hit status. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one processor; and program code configured to be executed by the processor to manage a global forwarding table in a distributed switch, wherein the distributed switch comprises distributed switch elements, wherein each distributed switch element comprises; a plurality of switch forwarding units, a plurality of caches corresponding to the plurality of switch forwarding units, and a programming table corresponding to information programmed into the plurality of caches; and wherein the program code when executed by the processor causes operations including; starting a timer for an entry in the global forwarding table, wherein the entry includes a multicast destination address and corresponding multicast membership information; when a miss event is generated by a first switch forwarding unit of the plurality of switch forwarding units that corresponds to a first distributed switch element of the distributed switch elements; programming the first switch forwarding unit with the multicast destination address and corresponding multicast membership information; and registering the multicast destination address and corresponding multicast membership information to create a registration, wherein the registering comprises storing the multicast destination address and corresponding multicast membership information in the programming table of the first distributed switch element, and wherein the registration includes a hit status; in response to expiration of the timer of the entry, checking a hit status of a cache of each of the switch forwarding units of the distributed switch to determine whether any switch forwarding unit of the distributed switch has forwarded multicast data to the corresponding multicast membership information of the multicast destination address of the entry; and determining whether the entry is a cast-out candidate based on checking the hit status. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification