Abstract: A layer two forwarding protocol (L2F) provides virtual direct dial-up service into private networks through public internet service providers. An authorized remote client appears as a direct dial-up client to the home gateway, even through the client is accessing the home gateway remotely through the ISP. The new forwarding protocol allows the remote client to conduct point-to-point link protocols, such as point-to-point protocol (PPP) and serial line interface protocol (SLIP) directly with the local network home gateway. The network access server changes from a routing mode where a communication protocol is conducted with the client to a switching mode where the POP simply sends data from one port to a tunnel. The tunnel then transmits the data to another port, regardless of the header information on transmitted data packets. The remote client can then be managed through databases controlled by the local network and gain access to resources not typically accessible through the internet.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a network router includes plural interfaces and a chain walker which, upon receipt of a first protocol packet in a first interface, processes the packet by walking the packet through a decapsulation chain associated with the interface and the first protocol and an encapsulation chain associated with an identified second interface and identified second protocol. The walker passes the packet to elements of the decapsulation chain to produce a decapsulated packet. The walker passes the decapsulated packet to elements of an encapsulation chain to produce an encapsulated packet. Each chain includes at least one packet-processing element. An element receives the packet from the walker as processed by a previous element, the packet being further processed as appropriate. The walker, upon receipt of the first protocol packet, passes the packet to elements of a demultiplexer chain associated with the first interface to produce a demultiplexed packet.

Abstract: A method for processing packets in a router includes specifying operations on packets as chains of processing elements. Each chain is uniquely associated with one interface/protocol pair, and each processing element performs at least one function on a packet. An incoming packet is received, and processed, first by a demultiplexor element which determines the protocol of the next higher level used by the packet. Then, the packet is processed by the elements of a decapsulation chain associated with the interface on which the packet was received, and by the elements of an encapsulation chain associated with the interface on which the packet is to be transmitted. The demultiplexor element or operation passes the packet on to a decapsulation chain associated with the protocol and with the incoming interface, depending on protocol information contained in the incoming packet.

Abstract: A layer two forwarding protocol (L2F) provides virtual direct dial-up service into private networks through public internet service providers. An authorized remote client appears as a direct dial-up client to the home gateway, even through the client is accessing the home gateway remotely through the ISP. The new forwarding protocol allows the remote client to conduct point-to-point link protocols, such as point-to-point protocol (PPP) and serial line interface protocol (SLIP) directly with the local network home gateway. The network access server changes from a routing mode where a communication protocol is conducted with the client to a switching mode where the POP simply sends data from one port to a tunnel. The tunnel then transmits the data to another port, regardless of the header information on transmitted data packets. The remote client can then be managed through databases controlled by the local network and gain access to resources not typically accessible through the internet.

Abstract: A method for processing packets in a router includes specifying operations on packets as chains of processing elements. Each chain is uniquely associated with one interface/protocol pair, and each processing element performs at least one function on a packet. An incoming packet is received, and processed, first by a demultiplexor element which determines the protocol of the next higher level used by the packet. Then, the packet is processed by the elements of a decapsulation chain associated with the interface on which the packet was received, and by the elements of an encapsulation chain associated with the interface on which the packet is to be transmitted. The demultiplexor element or operation passes the packet on to a decapsulation chain associated with the protocol and with the incoming interface, depending on protocol information contained in the incoming packet.

Abstract: A layer two forwarding protocol (L2F) provides virtual direct dial-up service into private networks through public internet service providers. An authorized remote client appears as a direct dial-up client to the home gateway, even through the client is accessing the home gateway remotely through the ISP. The new forwarding protocol allows the remote client to conduct point-to-point link protocols, such as point-to-point protocol (PPP) and serial line interface protocol (SLIP) directly with the local network home gateway. The network access server changes from a routing mode where a communication protocol is conducted with the client to a switching mode where the POP simply sends data from one port to a tunnel. The tunnel then transmits the data to another port, regardless of the header information on transmitted data packets. The remote client can then be managed through databases controlled by the local network and gain access to resources not typically accessible through the internet.

Abstract: A layer two forwarding protocol (L2F) provides virtual direct dial-up service into private networks through public internet service providers. An authorized remote client appears as a direct dial-up client to the home gateway, even through the client is accessing the home gateway remotely through the ISP. The new forwarding protocol allows the remote client to conduct point-to-point link protocols, such as point-to-point protocol (PPP) and serial line interface protocol (SLIP) directly with the local network home gateway. The network access server changes from a routing mode where a communication protocol is conducted with the client to a switching mode where the POP simply sends data from one port to a tunnel. The tunnel then transmits the data to another port, regardless of the header information on transmitted data packets. The remote client can then be managed through databases controlled by the local network and gain access to resources not typically accessible through the internet.

Abstract: A stack group bidding protocol (SGBP) establishes systems as members of a stack group connected together through one or more networks. When an event, such as establishment of a point-to-point link, occurs on one of the systems, a bid request is sent to each stack group member. Each stack group member then bids for the event. The bid is based on dynamic bid weighting criteria that varies depending on the computation capacity of the member at the time the bid request is initiated. A multichassis multilink PPP (MLP) protocol utilizes the SGBP to conduct multilink PPP sessions for links that either originate or terminate on different physical systems. A L2F forwarding protocol is used in combination with multichassis MLP to forward the links from one system to another system and offers location transparency.

Abstract: A layer two forwarding protocol (L2F) provides virtual direct dial-up service into private networks through public internet service providers. An authorized remote client appears as a direct dial-up client to the home gateway, even through the client is accessing the home gateway remotely through the ISP. The new forwarding protocol allows the remote client to conduct point-to-point link protocols, such as point-to-point protocol (PPP) and serial line interface protocol (SLIP) directly with the local network home gateway. The network access server changes from a routing mode where a communication protocol is conducted with the client to a switching mode where the POP simply sends data from one port to a tunnel. The tunnel then transmits the data to another port, regardless of the header information on transmitted data packets. The remote client can then be managed through databases controlled by the local network and gain access to resources not typically accessible through the internet.

Abstract: A computing system (50) includes N number of symmetrical computing engines having N number of cache memories joined by a system bus (12). The computing system includes a global run queue (54), an FPA global run queue, and N number of affinity run queues (58). Each engine is associated with one affinity run queue, which includes multiple slots. When a process first becomes runnable, it is typically attached one of the global run queues. A scheduler allocates engines to processes and schedules the processes to run on the basis of priority and engine availability. An engine typically stops running a process before it is complete. When the process becomes runnable again the scheduler estimates the remaining cache context for the process in the cache of the engine. The scheduler uses the estimated amount of cache context in deciding in which run queue a process is to be enqueued.

Abstract: A computing system (50) includes N number of symmetrical computing engines having N number of cache memories joined by a system bus (12). The computing system includes a global run queue (54), an FPA global run queue, and N number of affinity run queues (58). Each engine is associated with one affinity run queue, which includes multiple slots. When a process first becomes runnable, it is typically attached one of the global run queues. A scheduler allocates engines to processes and schedules the processes to run on the basis of priority and engine availability. An engine typically stops running a process before it is complete. When the process becomes runnable again the scheduler estimates the remaining cache context for the process in the cache of the engine. The scheduler uses the estimated amount of cache context in deciding in which run queue a process is to be enqueued.