Abstract: A system and method for priority-based flow control between nodes. In one example, pause deadlocks in a physical loop can be averted by priority-based selection of egress ports to which a packet is forwarded. In one embodiment, if the packet priority matches a configured lossless priority, then the set of internal egress ports is masked such that only the internal ports belonging to the spanning tree remain in the set of internal egress ports. If the packet priority does not match a configured lossless priority, then the set of internal egress ports is masked such that only the internal ports belonging to the shortest path first tree remain in the set of internal egress ports.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to forwarding of packets in link aggregation environments. A method for forwarding a packet through an extended switch including a first port extender and a second port extender directly or indirectly communicatively coupled to respectively a first interface and a second interface of a controlling bridge includes, associating a first port extender interface of the first port extender with a global namespace or an interface-specific namespace. The method further includes receiving a packet through the first port extender interface, marking the received packet with an indication of the namespace configuration of the first port extender interface, processing the marked packet in the controlling bridge based at least in part upon the indication, and transmitting the processed packet out of the controlling bridge.

Abstract: A technique in which at least one controlling bridge controls data traffic among devices located lower in hierarchy below the controlling bridge. Those devices include a plurality of porting devices, such as line modules and port extenders, which ultimately communicate with an end point device, referred to as a station. At least two physical pathways from a controlling bridge to a station are grouped together into a virtual trunk to provide multiple physical pathways for packet transfer when operating in a dual-homed mode.

Abstract: A system and method for priority-based flow control between nodes. In one example, pause deadlocks in a physical loop can be averted by priority-based selection of egress ports to which a packet is forwarded. In one embodiment, if the packet priority matches a configured lossless priority, then the set of internal egress ports is masked such that only the internal ports belonging to the spanning tree remain in the set of internal egress ports. If the packet priority does not match a configured lossless priority, then the set of internal egress ports is masked such that only the internal ports belonging to the shortest path first tree remain in the set of internal egress ports.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to forwarding of packets in link aggregation environments. A method for forwarding a packet through an extended switch including a first port extender and a second port extender directly or indirectly communicatively coupled to respectively a first interface and a second interface of a controlling bridge includes, associating a first port extender interface of the first port extender with a global namespace or an interface-specific namespace. The method further includes receiving a packet through the first port extender interface, marking the received packet with an indication of the namespace configuration of the first port extender interface, processing the marked packet in the controlling bridge based at least in part upon the indication, and transmitting the processed packet out of the controlling bridge.