Abstract: A method of mirroring select traffic in a switching mesh. A packet is received at an edge switch of the switching mesh, and a determination is made as to whether the packet is to be mirrored based on mirroring criteria. A path tag associated with a path through the switching mesh is selected. The path tag is associated with a mirror path if the packet is to be mirrored. The path tag is added to the packet, and the tagged packet is forwarded to a next switch along the path. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of configuring a traffic-associated path through a switching mesh. A source switch receives a request to associate a type of traffic to a specified path. The source switch is located at the beginning of the path. A path tag is allocated to the path. The path through the mesh is built, and the association between the type of traffic and the allocated path tag is programmed. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A router programmed to function within an aggregation of a plurality of routers that appears as a single router externally is programmed to determine whether it is a first router in the aggregation of routers to receive a data packet. If the router is a first router in the aggregation of routers to receive a data packet, the router is programmed to perform layer 3 routing for the data packet including modification of the source and destination Media Access Control (MAC) addresses of the packet, and then transmit the packet to another router in the aggregation of routers for layer 2 switching of the packet. If the router is not a first router in the aggregation of routers to receive a data packet, the router is programmed to only perform layer 2 switching of the packet, with layer 3 routing for the data packet having already been performed by another router in the aggregation of routers.

Abstract: One embodiment described relates to an automated method of host discovery and path tracing by a network management server. The method includes discovery of a location in the network of a source host, discovery of a location in the network of a destination host, and discovery of a path from the source host to the destination host. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of assuring integrity of a data set between multiple devices. A normalizing factor is generated at a first device. Based on the data set at the first device and the normalizing factor, a first integrity mechanism is calculated. The normalizing factor and the first integrity mechanism are sent from the first device to at least a second device. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A router programmed to function within an aggregation of a plurality of routers that appears as a single router externally is programmed to determine whether it is a first router in the aggregation of routers to receive a data packet. If the router is a first router in the aggregation of routers to receive a data packet, the router is programmed to perform layer 3 routing for the data packet including modification of the source and destination Media Access Control (MAC) addresses of the packet, and then transmit the packet to another router in the aggregation of routers for layer 2 switching of the packet. If the router is not a first router in the aggregation of routers to receive a data packet, the router is programmed to only perform layer 2 switching of the packet, with layer 3 routing for the data packet having already been performed by another router in the aggregation of routers.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of routing a packet by way of a router aggregation. A packet is received from outside the aggregation by an initially receiving router/switch unit. Router functions are performed by the initially receiving router unit, including modification of the packet. The packet is then sent to a layer 2 network of the aggregation, wherein switching functions are performed on the packet. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a cooperative aggregation of router/switch units. The aggregation includes a plurality of the router/switch units, and a switching network interconnecting the units. The cooperative aggregation functions as a single router from a perspective of an external network device coupled to the system.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of cost determination for paths between switches in a mesh. A set of paths between each pair of the mesh switches is defined, and start-up costs for the paths are calculated. The costs for the previously defined paths are subsequently recalculated using a directed cost protocol. The directed cost protocol may include generating at a first switch a cost packet with path information associated with a specific path, and unlasting the cost packet via the specific path to a second switch.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a switching system. The switching system includes first, second, and third sets of switches. The first set of switches is configured with a first instance of meshing software such that the switches in the first set are members of a first mesh domain. The second set of switches is configured with a second instance of the meshing software such that the switches in the second set are members of a second mesh domain. The third set of switches is configured with both the first and second instances of the meshing software such that the switches in the third set are members of both the first and second mesh domains. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a packet switch apparatus executing multiple instances of meshing software. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a method of configuring a switching system having multiple mesh domains.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of handling oversubscribed ports between switches. An oversubscribed port is detected at a detecting switch. A set of paths exiting at the oversubscribed port is selected for retagging, and tags for the set of paths are invalidated. When packets with the invalidated tags are received, the received packets are retagged with a tag associated with a detour path. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a packet switch apparatus with oversubscribed port handling capability for use in a switching mesh. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a switching mesh including a capability to handle oversubscribed ports between switches.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of handling link failures between switches. A failed link is detected at a detecting switch. The detecting switch determines a set of path tags whose paths are affected by the failed link. Subsequently, when packets are received with one of the path tags affected by the failed link, those packets are retagged with a detour path tag associated with a detour path circumventing the failed link. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a packet switch apparatus with link failure handling capability for use in a switching mesh. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a switching mesh including a capability to handle link failures.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to a method by a switch of tracing a broadcast path from the switch through a group of switches. A broadcast traceroute packet is issued with a first hop entry from each port within the broadcast path. Trace hop packets are received from hop switches within the broadcast path, and trace complete packets are received from end switches within the broadcast path. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example comprises a first mesh network switch, of a plurality of mesh network switches, that employs mesh connection information of one or more mesh network switches of the plurality of mesh network switches to determine a plurality of paths between the first mesh network switch and a second mesh network switch, of the plurality of mesh network switches, before a selection of one path of the plurality of paths for transmission of one or more packets from the first mesh network switch to the second mesh network switch.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of broadcasting packets through a network of switches. A packet is received to be broadcast through the network of switches. A broadcast path is selected from a plurality of generated broadcast paths. A broadcast path tag associated with the selected broadcast path is created and inserted into the packet. A determination is made of the port(s) by which to forward the packet, and the packet is transmitted via the port(s) to next switch(es) in accordance with the selected broadcast path.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a switching system. The switching system includes first, second, and third sets of switches. The first set of switches is configured with a first instance of meshing software such that the switches in the first set are members of a first mesh domain. The second set of switches is configured with a second instance of the meshing software such that the switches in the second set are members of a second mesh domain. The third set of switches is configured with both the first and second instances of the meshing software such that the switches in the third set are members of both the first and second mesh domains. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a packet switch apparatus executing multiple instances of meshing software. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a method of configuring a switching system having multiple mesh domains.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example comprises a first mesh network switch that directs a path verification request along a specific path to a second mesh network switch to test operability of the specific path.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a switching system. The switching system includes first, second, and third sets of switches. The first set of switches is configured with a first instance of meshing software such that the switches in the first set are members of a first mesh domain. The second set of switches is configured with a second instance of the meshing software such that the switches in the second set are members of a second mesh domain. The third set of switches is configured with both the first and second instances of the meshing software such that the switches in the third set are members of both the first and second mesh domains. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a packet switch apparatus executing multiple instances of meshing software. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a method of configuring a switching system having multiple mesh domains.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of load balancing traffic in a switching mesh. A packet is received at a switch of the mesh. A MAC destination address is gathered from the packet. An entry in a MAC address table is found with the MAC destination address, and a switch identifier associated with the MAC destination address is obtained. An entry in a switch table is found with the switch identifier, and data associated with the switch identifier is obtained. A hash function is used on field data from the packet to generate a hash value, and the hash value and the associated data are used to generate an index value. An entry in the tag table is found with the index value, and a path tag associated with the index value is obtained. The path tag is inserted into the packet. The path tags may be weighted.