Abstract: In response to a detected loss of previously transmitted information by an apparatus communicating with a remote device (e.g., using TCP), the rate of transmission of information is increased by the apparatus in response to attributing the detected loss of previously transmitted information as not being caused by congestion. This attribution of the packet loss is typically determined based on roundtrip delays between sent information and received corresponding acknowledgments, which may be used directly or indirectly, such as by estimating network queuing delays based on the measured roundtrip delays.

Abstract: A packet switching device maintains mappings of bridge identification values to line cards for each of multiple virtual bridges. When a packet is received that includes a bridge identification value, corresponding line card(s) are identified, with each being forwarded the packet. Each of these identified line cards, in response to receipt of the packet from the line card, determines whether to forward or drop the packet based on its maintained bridge table. In this manner, the original receiving line card does not need to maintain forwarding information based on destination addresses of received packets (e.g., does not need to maintain a bridge table for each virtual bridge), but rather forwards a packet to other line cards associated with the virtual bridge corresponding to the bridge identification value received in a packet.

Abstract: Disclosed are, inter alia, methods, apparatus, computer-storage media, mechanisms, and means associated with loss of network layer connectivity triggering Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) initialization. According to one embodiment, a network device connected to a network initializes one or more network communication values of the network device using DHCP. The network device monitors Network Layer (Layer 3) connectivity with a remote network device; and in response to detecting a loss of said monitored Network Layer connectivity, DHCP initialization of the network device is performed.