Abstract: A method for distributing addressed data packets from an input channel to a multiplicity of packet queues includes receiving said addressed data packets and, responsive to first hashed addresses, distributing the addressed data packets to said queues in accordance with said first hashed addresses. A first hash function is applied to selected address data of each of said addressed data packets to produce said first hashed addresses. At the same time a succession of different hash functions is applied to said selected address data in each of the packets to produce second hashed addresses and occurrences of each of the second hashed addresses are counted so as to obtain for each of said different hash functions a respective one of a plurality of set of counts, each such set representing the distribution of said packets that would occur in said queues if the respective one of the different hash functions had been applied to said addressed data packets.

Abstract: Trunking or other relationship is defined between ports on different devices in a cascade-connected stack of network devices. When network communications are passed via the cascade connection an indication is included of whether it originated from a port that is part of a trunk and thereby port-mismatch errors can be avoided.

Abstract: Trunking or other relationship is defined between ports on different devices in a cascade connected stack of network devices. When network communications are passed via the cascade connection an indication is included of whether it originated from a port which is part of a trunk and thereby port-mismatch errors can be avoided.

Abstract: Port mirroring is achieved between ports on separate devices in a stack of communication devices by establishing a protocol for communications within a cascade connection forming the stack in which an indication is given of whether the communication is being sent to the mirror port in addition to its intended destination. This avoids increasing the volume of traffic in the cascade connection as would be the case if the original and mirror copy were sent separately.