Abstract: A network unit for use in a switching fabric includes multiple units collectively constituting a single network entity, each having ports for the reception and forwarding of data packets. The network unit has at least one fabric port for connection to a partner port on another one of the units by at least one link. The network unit is organized to send and receive via the at least one fabric port protocol packets which contain information on the path costs between said units in the fabric and to perform an algorithm to determine, on the basis of said information, routes for data packets within the fabric to other units of the fabric.

Abstract: A network unit for use in a switching fabric includes multiple units collectively constituting a single network entity, each having ports for the reception and forwarding of data packets. The network unit has at least one fabric port for connection to a partner port on another one of the units by at least one link. The network unit is organized to send and receive via the at least one fabric port protocol packets which contain information on the path costs between said units in the fabric and to perform an algorithm to determine, on the basis of said information, routes for data packets within the fabric to other units of the fabric.

Abstract: A network unit for use in a switching fabric includes multiple units collectively constituting a single network entity, each having ports for the reception and forwarding of data packets. The network unit has at least one fabric port for connection to a partner port on another one of the units by at least one link. The network unit is organized to send and receive via the at least one fabric port protocol packets which contain information on the path costs between said units in the fabric and to perform an algorithm to determine, on the basis of said information, routes for data packets within the fabric to other units of the fabric.

Abstract: A network unit for use in a switching fabric includes multiple units collectively constituting a single network entity, each having ports for the reception and forwarding of data packets. The network unit has at least one fabric port for connection to a partner port on another one of the units by at least one link. The network unit is organized to send and receive via the at least one fabric port protocol packets which contain information on the path costs between said units in the fabric and to perform an algorithm to determine, on the basis of said information, routes for data packets within the fabric to other units of the fabric.

Abstract: A network unit for use in a switching fabric stores for each network unit in the switching fabric a respective change identification number. In each unit this number is incremented on each change of state. The unit broadcasts protocol packets which indicates incremented change identification numbers; receives corresponding packets from the other units; and determines when the last change identification numbers in the table are the same for all the units. This allows a control based on whether all the units know that all the other units have been updated in response to all the changes of state in the fabric. The network unit can also participate in a routing algorithm, and particularly a shortest path algorithm, within a fabric that constitutes a single network entity.