Abstract: A first packet of a packet flow is received at a classifying network device. The first packet is forwarded from the classifying network device to a firewall network device. An indication that the packet flow is to be offloaded is received at the classifying network device. Data is stored at the classifying network device indicating that the packet flow is to be offloaded. A non-control packet of the packet flow is received at the classifying network device. A determination is made that the non-control packet belongs to the packet flow by comparing data contained in the non-control packet to the stored data. The non-control packet of the packet flow is directed to a processing entity in response to the determining. A control packet of the packet flow is received at the classifying network device. The control packet of the packet flow is directed to the firewall network device.

Abstract: A first packet of a packet flow is received at a classifying network device. The first packet is forwarded from the classifying network device to a firewall network device. An indication that the packet flow is to be offloaded is received at the classifying network device. Data is stored at the classifying network device indicating that the packet flow is to be offloaded. A non-control packet of the packet flow is received at the classifying network device. A determination is made that the non-control packet belongs to the packet flow by comparing data contained in the non-control packet to the stored data. The non-control packet of the packet flow is directed to a processing entity in response to the determining. A control packet of the packet flow is received at the classifying network device. The control packet of the packet flow is directed to the firewall network device.

Abstract: A first packet of a packet flow is received at a classifying network device. The first packet is forwarded from the classifying network device to a firewall network device. An indication that the packet flow is to be offloaded is received at the classifying network device. Data is stored at the classifying network device indicating that the packet flow is to be offloaded. A non-control packet of the packet flow is received at the classifying network device. A determination is made that the non-control packet belongs to the packet flow by comparing data contained in the non-control packet to the stored data. The non-control packet of the packet flow is directed to a processing entity in response to the determining. A control packet of the packet flow is received at the classifying network device. The control packet of the packet flow is directed to the firewall network device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for rapidly re-starting a spanning tree process at an intermediate device. A spanning tree entity running one or more instances of a spanning tree process or protocol stores a record of spanning tree parameter information and port states in a non-volatile memory. Following a re-start, the spanning tree entity verifies whether the parameter information in the non-volatile memory is still valid. If so, the spanning tree entity adopts the port states and the intermediate device resumes forwarding messages accordingly. If the spanning tree parameter information from the non-volatile memory is no longer valid, the spanning tree entity discards it and proceeds to re-calculate the spanning tree and transition its port states in a conventional manner.