Abstract: A physical network element is provided which is configured to operate as a plurality of separated routing entities, each functioning independently of the others, wherein the physical network element is characterized in that: a) each of the plurality of routing entities is provided with its own control, management and data planes, as well as with a dedicated routing information base table and a forwarding information base table; and b) all of the plurality of routing entities are configured to operate while sharing at least one member of a group that consists of: (i) one or more packet processors comprised in the physical network element; (ii) one or more central processing units (CPUs) comprised in the physical network element; (iii) one or more fabrics comprised in the physical network element; and (iv) one or more network interfaces comprised in the physical network element.

Abstract: A network cloud software is provided which is configured to enable operation of multiple hardware network elements as a single routing or switching entity. The network cloud software is used in a distributed manner and provides layers of synchronization and management to allow creation of a network cloud cluster that can start with a single white-box that acts as a stand-alone network device and then scale it to a cluster of tens of hardware elements that would still appear to the external user as a single entity. The network cloud software may also implement mediation layer (HAL) that allows the use of a multi-vendor hardware types by the same network cloud software that is capable of running on a number of different hardware types, while to the external user they will all be seen as devices that have the same functionality and the same network behavior.

Abstract: A physical network element is provided which is configured to operate as a plurality of separated routing entities, each functioning independently of the others, wherein the physical network element is characterized in that: a) each of the plurality of routing entities is provided with its own control, management and data planes, as well as with a dedicated routing information base table and a forwarding information base table; and b) all of the plurality of routing entities are configured to operate while sharing at least one member of a group that consists of: (i) one or more packet processors comprised in the physical network element; (ii) one or more central processing units (CPUs) comprised in the physical network element; (iii) one or more fabrics comprised in the physical network element; and (iv) one or more network interfaces comprised in the physical network element.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an improved access router. A packet switching system for a packet transfer network includes a plurality of line cards. Each line card includes an electro-optical interconnect in electrical communication with a network processing element associated with the line card. The electro-optical interconnect is configured to send and receive optical signals from each other line card, and directly to end-user equipment, without any intervening electro-optical conversion.

Abstract: An apparatus (12) and method (80, 120) is described for reducing power consumption in a system (10) having subsystems (34). A controller (40, 40', 40") detects the occurrence of a repetitive operation (62). The subsystems (34, 38) or a power down controller (39) detect (86, 128), whether a subset (60i) of the subsystems (34) is or is not participating in the repetitive operation (62). This preferably occurs during the first iteration (661-662) of the repetitive operation (62). Power controls (36) in or coupled to (39) the subsystems (34), reduce the power consumption of this subset (60i) of the subsystems (34) until the repetitive operation (62) is completed (642), whereupon power thereto is restored (114, 190). In the event of an interrupt (643-644), the subset (60i) is maintained (142) or returned (172) to full power operation until the interrupt (643-644) is finished (144, 174) and the repetitive operation resumes (644-642).