Abstract: Disclosed herein are synthetic microparticles substantially free of monovalent and divalent metal elements and a method of forming such synthetic microparticles. The synthetic microparticle may be suitable for use as a density modifying filler. The synthetic microsphere can be made from an agglomerate precursor that includes an aluminosilicate material, such as fly ash, a blowing agent such as sugar, carbon black, and silicon carbide, and a binding agent. The synthetic microsphere is produced when the precursor is fired at a pre-determined temperature profile so as to form either solid or hollow synthetic microspheres depending on the processing conditions and/or components used. The synthetic microparticle is capable of being formed into a large range of predetermined shapes.

Abstract: A network device having a plurality of packet forwarding elements, each including a hardware component for receiving and forwarding data packets from and to other network devices via a plurality of input ports connected to a network. Each hardware component is configured to determine whether a received data packet is one of a predetermined class of data packets based on data in the received data packet and, if so, generate expedited processing instructions corresponding to the received data packet based on data in the received data packet. The hardware component forwards the received data packet, together with the corresponding expedited processing instructions, directly to the hardware component of all packet forwarding elements of the plurality of packet forwarding elements for processing based on the expedited processing instructions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are synthetic microparticles substantially free of monovalent and divalent metal elements and a method of forming such synthetic microparticles. The synthetic microparticle may be suitable for use as a density modifying filler. The synthetic microsphere can be made from an agglomerate precursor that includes an aluminosilicate material, such as fly ash, a blowing agent such as sugar, carbon black, and silicon carbide, and a binding agent. The synthetic microsphere is produced when the precursor is fired at a pre-determined temperature profile so as to form either solid or hollow synthetic microspheres depending on the processing conditions and/or components used. The synthetic microparticle is capable of being formed into a large range of predetermined shapes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for dedicating resources of a network processor. An interface to dedicate resources of a network processor is displayed. Decisions of the network processor are preempted by the selections made via the interface.

Abstract: A network device having a plurality of packet forwarding elements, each including a hardware component for receiving and forwarding data packets from and to other network devices via a plurality of input ports connected to a network. Each hardware component is configured to determine whether a received data packet is one of a predetermined class of data packets based on data in the received data packet and, if so, generate expedited processing instructions corresponding to the received data packet based on data in the received data packet. The hardware component forwards the received data packet, together with the corresponding expedited processing instructions, directly to the hardware component of all packet forwarding elements of the plurality of packet forwarding elements for processing based on the expedited processing instructions.

Abstract: A network device includes a web server chip that is connectable to a computer network. The web server chip includes an embedded processor that is programmable to function as a manageability web server, obtain manageability information about the network device and send the manageability to a network manager. The web server chip further includes an interface for communicating with an I2C bus in the network device. The embedded processor is programmable to obtain manageability information about devices connected to the I2C bus. The embedded processor is also programmable to control fan controllers, power supply controllers and other controllers connected to the I2C bus. This, in turn, allows a network manager to command the web server chip to remotely power up and power down the network device. Thus, the web server chip can perform network management functions without burdening the host processor of the network device.

Abstract: A chip for a device such as a computer includes a media access controller and an embedded processor. The embedded processor is programmed to function as a web server and provide network manageability information to a network manager. The embedded processor is also programmed to function as a LAN controller. When a packet is received by the media access controller, the embedded processor examines a destination address of the packet and routes the packet to an appropriate end point. Packets having a first unique destination address are routed to a host interface (and eventually to a host processor), and packets having a second unique address are routed to the embedded processor-functioning-as-web server. Thus, the chip allows network management and local area network communications to be performed over a single physical interface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the synchronization of an F.sub.-- port receiver on a Fibre Channel switch with an external N.sub.-- port to ensure the reception of a stream of transmission characters including four byte ordered sets having a comma character positioned as the left most byte in the ordered set in accordance with the Fibre Channel standard.