Abstract: A switch includes a plurality of ports including at least one bus port associated with ports connected to other switches in a network and a memory to store a hash table including MAC addresses and VLAN ids of ports in the network. For each one of the VLAN ids, one of the MAC addresses identifies one of the other switches having ports belonging to the one of the VLAN ids without identifying the ports of the one of the other switches that belongs to the one of the VLAN ids.

Abstract: A switch includes a plurality of ports including at least one bus port associated with ports connected to other switches in a network and a memory to store a hash table including MAC addresses and VLAN ids of ports in the network. For each one of the VLAN ids, one of the MAC addresses identifies one of the other switches having ports belonging to the one of the VLAN ids without identifying the ports of the one of the other switches that belongs to the one of the VLAN ids.

Abstract: A method for transferring data includes connecting N ports of a crossbar to N devices, respectively, where N is an integer greater than one. Inbound data is received at one of the N ports from a respective one of the N devices. Dedicated connections are provided between an input buffer of one of the N ports and N?1 output buffers associated with others of the N ports, respectively. At least one of the N?1 output buffers of the others of the N ports is selected to output outbound data corresponding to the inbound data. The inbound data from the input buffer of one of the N ports is selectively transferred to at least one of the N?1 output buffers of the others of the N ports.

Abstract: A switch controller includes a plurality of ports, a hash table, and a hash table control unit. The plurality of ports includes at least one bus port associated with ports connected to other switch controllers in a network. The hash table stores MAC addresses and VLAN ids of ports within the network. The hash table control unit hashes a MAC address and a VLAN id of a packet to identify a first location in the hash table. For each one of the VLAN ids stored in the hash table, one of the MAC addresses identifies one of the other switch controllers having ports belonging to the one of the VLAN ids without identifying each one of the ports of the one of the other switch controllers that belongs to the one of the VLAN ids.

Abstract: A method for transferring data includes connecting N ports of a crossbar to N devices, respectively, where N is an integer greater than one. Inbound data is received at one of the N ports from a respective one of the N devices. Dedicated connections are provided between an input buffer of one of the N ports and N?1 output buffers associated with others of the N ports, respectively. At least one of the N?1 output buffers of the others of the N ports is selected to output outbound data corresponding to the inbound data. The inbound data from the input buffer of one of the N ports is selectively transferred to at least one of the N?1 output buffers of the others of the N ports.

Abstract: A method for transferring data includes connecting N ports of a crossbar to N devices, respectively, where N is an integer greater than one. Inbound data is received at one of the N ports from a respective one of the N devices. N?1 output buffers are associated with others of the N ports, respectively. At least one of the N?1 output buffers is selected to output outbound data corresponding to the inbound data. The inbound data from the input buffer of one of the N ports is selectively transferred to at least one of the N?1 output buffers of the others of the N ports.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing packet memory is provided. The apparatus includes an empty list, a storage buffer and apparatus for updating the storage buffer and empty list. The empty list includes a multiplicity of single bit buffers. The storage buffer includes a multiplicity of contiguous buffers, wherein each single bit buffer is associated with one of the contiguous buffers. The state of the bit of a single bit buffer indicates the empty or full state of the associated contiguous buffer and the address of a contiguous buffer is a simple function of the address or number of its associated single bit buffer. The updating apparatus stores data in and removes data from the contiguous buffers and correspondingly updates the states of the associated single bits buffers.

Abstract: A switch controller includes a plurality of ports, a hash table, and a hash table control unit. The plurality of ports includes at least one bus port associated with ports connected to other switch controllers. The hash table stores MAC addresses and VLAN ids of ports within a network. The hash table control unit hashes a MAC address and a VLAN id of a packet to a first hash table location.

Abstract: A generally full-wire throughput, switching Ethernet controller used within an Ethernet network of other switching Ethernet controllers connected together by a bus. The controller comprises a plurality of ports including at least one bus port associated with ports connected to other switching Ethernet controllers. A hash table stores MAC addresses and VLAN ids of ports within said Ethernet network. A hash table address control hashes the MAC address and VLAN id of a packet to initial hash table location values, changes the hash table location values by a fixed jump amount if the address and VLAN id values stored in said initial hash table location do not match the received address and VLAN id, and provides at least an output port number of the port associated with the received address and VLAN id. A storage buffer includes a multiplicity of contiguous buffers in which to temporarily store said packet.

Abstract: A method for transferring data includes connecting N ports of a crossbar to N devices, respectively, where N is an integer greater than one. Inbound data is received at one of the N ports from a respective one of the N devices. Dedicated connections are provided between an input buffer of one of the N ports and N-1 output buffers associated with others of the N ports, respectively. At least one of the N-1 output buffers of the others of the N ports is selected to output outbound data corresponding to the inbound data. The inbound data from the input buffer of one of the N ports is selectively transferred to at least one of the N-1 output buffers of the others of the N ports.

Abstract: A crossbar for communicating with at least one device, the crossbar comprises N ports. Each one of the N ports comprises a link logic unit to receive messages and data from a respective device, N-1 output buffers each corresponding to another one of the N-1 ports and a port arbiter to select one of the N-1 output buffers to output data to the respective device. The stored data is transferred to the corresponding output buffer of a selected one of the other one of the N ports.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing packet memory is provided. The apparatus includes an empty list, a storage buffer and apparatus for updating the storage buffer and empty list. The empty list includes a multiplicity of single bit buffers. The storage buffer includes a multiplicity of contiguous buffers, wherein each single bit buffer is associated with one of the contiguous buffers. The state of the bit of a single bit buffer indicates the empty or full state of the associated contiguous buffer and the address of a contiguous buffer is a simple function of the address or number of its associated single bit buffer. The updating apparatus stores data in and removes data from the contiguous buffers and correspondingly updates the states of the associated single bits buffers.

Abstract: A generally full-wire throughput, switching Ethernet controller used within an Ethernet network of other switching Ethernet controllers connected together by a bus. The controller comprises a plurality of ports including at least one bus port associated with ports connected to other switching Ethernet controllers. A hash table stores MAC addresses and VLAN ids of ports within said Ethernet network. A hash table address control hashes the MAC address and VLAN id of a packet to initial hash table location values, changes the hash table location values by a fixed jump amount if the address and VLAN id values stored in said initial hash table location do not match the received address and VLAN id, and provides at least an output port number of the port associated with the received address and VLAN id. A storage buffer includes a multiplicity of contiguous buffers in which to temporarily store said packet.

Abstract: A method of broadcasting a packet to the ports belonging to one VLAN of a network, whereas the network has multiple network switches. Each network switch has its own local ports and a local VLAN table. Each local VLAN table stores local port membership of its network switch, and switch membership per VLAN identifier. The local VLAN table is accessed by a VLAN identifier which is stored in the packet, and retrieves the local port membership and switch membership associated with the VLAN identifier. A copy of the packet is provided to each local port and to each switch retrieved from said local VLAN table.

Abstract: A data network including at least one crossbar, wherein each crossbar comprises N ports and a plurality N of devices each associated with and connected to one port of one of the crossbars. Each one port of one crossbar includes an input buffer, a plurality N?1 of port output buffers, a plurality N?1 of fullness sensors, shutoff devices. The input buffer receives messages from the device connected to its port and sends the messages to the other ports of the one crossbar. Each port output buffers corresponds to one of the other ports, wherein each port output buffer receives the messages only from the input buffer of its associated other port. Each fullness sensor is associated with one port output buffer and measures the fullness state of its associated port output buffer.

Abstract: A write-only data transfer protocol for peripheral component interface busses and a method for transferring data between source and destination communication units is provided. The method includes the source communication unit writing a buffer allocation request to the destination unit and, in response to the buffer allocation request, the destination communication unit allocating space within an associated buffer to receive the data to be sent. The method also includes the destination communication unit writing at least the location of the allocated buffer to the source communication unit and the source communication unit writing the data to be sent to the allocated buffer location.

Abstract: An Ethernet controller, for use within an Ethernet network of other Ethernet controller connected together by a bus, is provided. The Ethernet controller includes a plurality of ports including at least one bus port associated with ports connected to other switching Ethernet controllers, a hash table for storing addresses of ports within the Ethernet network, a hash table address control, a storage buffer including a multiplicity of contiguous buffers in which to temporarily store said packet, an empty list including a multiplicity of single bit buffers, a packet storage manager, a packet transfer manager and a write-only bus communication unit. The hash table address control hashes the address of a packet to initial hash table location values, changes the hash table location values by a fixed jump amount if the address values stored in the initial hash table location do not match the received address, and provides at least an output port number of the port associated with the received address.

Abstract: A switched Ethernet controller (SEC) device and associated method that provides processor based intervention in the packet routing decision process is provided. The method of routing a multicast packet between a source port on a source device and a plurality of destination ports on a plurality of destination devices, utilizes a processor. The method includes the steps of the source device receiving the multicast packet via the source port, the source device sending the multicast packet to the processor, the processor examining the multicast packet, the processor determining the plurality of destination devices and corresponding the plurality of destination ports based on the results obtained during the step of examining, the processor transferring the multicast packet to the plurality of destination devices, and the plurality of destination devices sending the multicast packet to the plurality of destination ports.

Abstract: An Ethernet controller, for use within an Ethernet network of other Ethernet controller connected together by a bus, is provided. The Ethernet controller includes a plurality of ports including at least one bus port associated with ports connected to other switching Ethernet controllers, a hash table for storing addresses of ports within the Ethernet network, a hash table address control, a storage buffer including a multiplicity of contiguous buffers in which to temporarily store said packet, an empty list including a multiplicity of single bit buffers, a packet storage manager, a packet transfer manager and a write-only bus communication unit. The hash table address control hashes the address of a packet to initial hash table location values, changes the hash table location values by a fixed jump amount if the address values stored in the initial hash table location do not match the received address, and provides at least an output port number of the port associated with the received address.

Abstract: An Ethernet controller, for use within an Ethernet network of other Ethernet controller connected together by a bus, is provided. The Ethernet controller includes a plurality of ports including at least one bus port associated with ports connected to other switching Ethernet controllers, a hash table for storing addresses of ports within the Ethernet network, a hash table address control, a storage buffer including a multiplicity of contiguous buffers in which to temporarily store said packet, an empty list including a multiplicity of single bit buffers, a packet storage manager, a packet transfer manager and a write-only bus communication unit. The hash table address control hashes the address of a packet to initial hash table location values, changes the hash table location values by a fixed jump amount if the address values stored in the initial hash table location do not match the received address, and provides at least an output port number of the port associated with the received address.