Abstract: A data-driven intelligent networking system that can facilitate global fairness is provided. The system can maintain state information of individual packet flows, which can be set up or released dynamically based on injected data. Each flow can be provided with a flow-specific input queue upon arriving at a switch. Packets of a respective flow are acknowledged after reaching the egress point of the network, and the acknowledgement packets are sent back to the ingress point of the flow along the same data path. As a result, each switch can obtain state information of each flow and enforce global fairness on a per-flow basis.

Abstract: A network interface controller (NIC) capable of efficient packet injection into an output buffer is provided. The NIC can be equipped with an output buffer, a plurality of injectors, a prioritization logic block, and a selection logic block. The plurality of injectors can share the output buffer. The prioritization logic block can determine a priority associated with a respective injector based on a high watermark and a low watermark associated with the injector. The selection logic block can then determine, from the plurality of injectors, a subset of injectors associated with a buffer class and determine whether the subset of injectors includes a high-priority injector. Upon identifying a high-priority injector in the subset of injectors, the selection logic block can select the high-priority injector for injecting a packet in the output buffer.

Abstract: A multi-path network for use in a bridge, switch, router, hub or the like, includes a plurality of network ports; a plurality of network elements; and a plurality of network links interconnecting the network elements and the network ports, for transporting data packets. Each network element has a fault monitor for detecting faults on the network links to which the network element is connected, a plurality of dynamically selectable output ports and output port selection mechanism. Each network element also being adapted to communicate the existence of a fault back to one or more other network elements so that network elements connected to the faulty network link can be bypassed, and each network element being adapted to update the output port selection mechanism when communication of the existence of a fault is received so that only those output ports which ensure the faulty network link is bypassed are dynamically selectable.

Abstract: A method of controlling data packet congestion in a data packet network comprises determining a reference flow condition that results in data packet congestion at a node of a data packet network, and identifying a data packet flow having a flow condition substantially equal to the reference flow condition. For such an identified data packet flow the following actions are taken causing a data packet to be dropped from the identified data packet flow, allowing a predetermined number of data packets from the identified data packet flow to proceed, and dropping data packets from the identified data packet flow subsequent to the predetermined number of data packets, until the packets that were not dropped have been delivered to the egress ports of the network.

Abstract: The present invention relates to data switching networks, and, in particular, to link aggregation groups in Ethernet switching networks. A technique is described in which a large number of links in a link aggregation group can be managed.

Abstract: The invention provides an Ethernet bridge or router comprising a network fabric adapted to provide interconnectivity to a plurality of Ethernet ports, each of the Ethernet ports being adapted to receive and/or transmit Ethernet frames, and wherein the Ethernet bridge or outer further comprises an encapsulator connected to receive Ethernet Protocol Data Units from the Ethernet ports, wherein the encapsulator is operable to generate a Fabric Protocol Data Unit from a received Ethernet Protocol Data Unit, the Fabric Protocol Data Unit comprising header portion, and a payload portion which comprises the Ethernet Protocol Data Unit concerned, and wherein the encapsulator is operable to transform Ethernet destination address information from the Ethernet Protocol Data Unit into a routing definition for the network fabric, and to include this routing definition in the header portion of the Fabric Protocol Data Unit. Also provided is a method of data delivery across a network.

Abstract: The invention provides an Ethernet bridge or router comprising a network fabric adapted to provide interconnectivity to a plurality of Ethernet ports, each of the Ethernet ports being adapted to receive and/or transmit Ethernet frames, and wherein the Ethernet bridge or router further comprises an encapsulator connected to receive Ethernet Protocol Data Units from the Ethernet ports, wherein the encapsulator is operable to generate a Fabric Protocol Data Unit from a received Ethernet Protocol Data Unit, the Fabric Protocol Data Unit comprising a header portion, and a payload portion which comprises the Ethernet Protocol Data Unit concerned, and wherein the encapsulator is operable to transform Ethernet destination address information from the Ethernet Protocol Data Unit into a routing definition for the network fabric, and to include this routing definition in the header portion of the Fabric Protocol Data Unit. Also provided is a method of data delivery across a network.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for efficiently controlling data packet routing through a switching element which has a first plurality of input ports and a second plurality of output ports. The method and system are configured for detecting issuance of a first congestion indicator from an output port of the switching element which is related to a first routing request received from a first input port. Reassertion of the first routing request is then carried out after a first time period. Similarly, the method and system are configured for detecting issuance of a second congestion indicator from the output port of the switching element, which is related to a second routing request from a second input port. Reassertion of the second routing request is then carried out after a second time period. In addition, the first and second time periods are set up so that reassertions of the first and second connection requests occur substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-path network for use in a bridge, switch, router, hub or the like, comprising a plurality of network ports adapted for connection with one or more devices, each device having a different identifying address data; a plurality of network elements; and a plurality of network links interconnecting the network elements and connecting the network elements to the network ports, wherein the multi-path network further comprises separately addressable memory elements each adapted for storing device address data and the multi-path network is adapted to distribute a plurality of device address data amongst the plurality of memory elements.

Abstract: A technique is described for retrieving data from a hash table in an Ethernet bridge. The table has a plurality of columns, each of which has a hash function, thereby creating respective different hash key values.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of limiting the frequency of floods within a data network, the floods arising as a data frame is routed to an unknown destination, the method comprising the steps of: receiving on an ingress port a data frame intended for a destination station and containing a MAC address of that station; checking the destination MAC address with the contents of a MAC table; and thereby determining whether the data frame is to be routed, discarded or flooded to all ports except the ingress port; and respectively routing, discarding or flooding the data frame to all ports except the ingress port.

Abstract: A method of controlling data packet congestion in a data packet network comprises determining a reference flow condition that results in data packet congestion at a node of a data packet network, and identifying a data packet flow having a flow condition substantially equal to the reference flow condition. For such an identified data packet flow the following actions are taken causing a data packet to be dropped from the identified data packet flow, allowing a predetermined number of data packets from the identified data packet flow to proceed, and dropping data packets from the identified data packet flow subsequent to the predetermined number of data packets, until the packets that were not dropped have been delivered to the egress ports of the network.

Abstract: The present invention relates to data switching networks, and, in particular, to link aggregation groups in Ethernet switching networks. A technique is described in which a large number of links in a link aggregation group can be managed.

Abstract: A method for controlling data packet routing through a switching element having a first plurality of input ports and a second plurality of output ports, the method comprising the steps of: detecting issuance of a first congestion indicator from an output port of the switching element, the first congestion indicator relating to a first routing request from a first input port of the switching element; allowing reassertion of the first routing request after a first time period; detecting issuance of a second congestion indicator from the output port of the switching element, the second congestion indicator relating to a second routing request from a second input port of the switching element; allowing reassertion of the second routing request after a second time period, wherein the first and second time periods are such that reassertions of the first and second connection requests occur substantially simultaneously. Also provided is a device for controlling such data packet routing.

Abstract: A technique is described for retrieving data from a hash table in an Ethernet bridge. The table has a plurality of columns, each of which has a hash function, thereby creating respective different hash key values.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-path network for use in a bridge, switch, router, hub or the like, the multi-path network including a plurality of network ports; a plurality of network elements; and a plurality of network links interconnecting the network elements and the network ports for transporting data packets, each network element including a fault monitor for detecting faults on the network links to which the network element is connected, a plurality of dynamically selectable output ports and output port selection mechanism and each network element being adapted to communicate the existence of a fault back to one or more other network elements via which network elements the faulty network link can be bypassed, and each network element being adapted to update the output port selection mechanism when communication of the existence of a fault is received so that only output ports which ensure the faulty network link is bypassed are dynamically selectable.

Abstract: The invention provides an Ethernet bridge or router comprising a network fabric adapted to provide interconnectivity to a plurality of Ethernet ports, each of the Ethernet ports being adapted to receive and/or transmit Ethernet frames, and wherein the Ethernet bridge or router further comprises an encapsulator connected to receive Ethernet Protocol Data Units from the Ethernet ports, wherein the encapsulator is operable to generate a Fabric Protocol Data Unit from a received Ethernet Protocol Data Unit, the Fabric Protocol Data Unit comprising a header portion, and a payload portion which comprises the Ethernet Protocol Data Unit concerned, and wherein the encapsulator is operable to transform Ethernet destination address information from the Ethernet Protocol Data Unit into a routing definition for the network fabric, and to include this routing definition in the header portion of the Fabric Protocol Data Unit. Also provided is a method of data delivery across a network.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of limiting the frequency of floods within a data network, the floods arising as a data frame is routed to an unknown destination, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving (42) on an ingress port a data frame intended for a destination station and containing a MAC address of that station; (b) checking (50) the destination MAC address with the contents of a MAC table; and thereby (c) determining (50, 54, 58, 62) whether the data frame is to be routed (56), discarded (60, 66) or flooded (52, 64) to all ports except the ingress port; and (d) respectively routing (56), discarding (60, 66) or flooding (52, 64) the data frame to all ports except the ingress port, as determined in Step (c).

Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-path network for use in a bridge, switch, router, hub or the like, comprising a plurality of network ports adapted for connection with one or more devices, each device having a different identifying address data; a plurality of network elements; and a plurality of network links interconnecting the network elements and connecting the network elements to the network ports, wherein the multi-path network further comprises separately addressable memory elements each adapted for storing device address data and the multi-path network is adapted to distribute a plurality of device address data amongst the plurality of memory elements.