Abstract: Methods and apparatus that may be used to provide timestamps to physical layer devices are provided. One method includes obtaining a time value from a clock associated with a physical layer device that is communicatively coupled to a primary data packet switch. The method further includes adding a processing time to the time value to generate a timestamp and transmitting the timestamp to a multiplexer circuit. The method further includes writing the timestamp in parallel from the multiplexer circuit to a plurality of external physical layer devices that are communicatively coupled to a secondary data packet switch and are located external to a housing of the secondary data packet switch.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus that may be used to provide timestamps to physical layer devices are provided. One method includes obtaining a time value from a clock associated with a physical layer device that is communicatively coupled to a primary data packet switch. The method further includes adding a processing time to the time value to generate a timestamp and transmitting the timestamp to a multiplexer circuit. The method further includes writing the timestamp in parallel from the multiplexer circuit to a plurality of external physical layer devices that are communicatively coupled to a secondary data packet switch and are located external to a housing of the secondary data packet switch.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus that may be used to provide timestamps to physical layer devices are provided. One method includes obtaining a time value from a clock associated with a physical layer device that is communicatively coupled to a primary data packet switch. The method further includes adding a processing time to the time value to generate a timestamp and transmitting the timestamp to a multiplexer circuit. The method further includes writing the timestamp in parallel from the multiplexer circuit to a plurality of external physical layer devices that are communicatively coupled to a secondary data packet switch and are located external to a housing of the secondary data packet switch.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus that may be used to provide timestamps to physical layer devices are provided. One method includes obtaining a time value from a clock associated with a physical layer device that is communicatively coupled to a primary data packet switch. The method further includes adding a processing time to the time value to generate a timestamp and transmitting the timestamp to a multiplexer circuit. The method further includes writing the timestamp in parallel from the multiplexer circuit to a plurality of external physical layer devices that are communicatively coupled to a secondary data packet switch and are located external to a housing of the secondary data packet switch.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to a method of providing dual-homing in a Layer 2 switch. A determination is made as to whether a link is available to an upstream network on for a currently active port. If the link is unavailable, then the Layer 2 switch a) performs a switchover such that the currently active port becomes a newly passive port, and a currently passive port becomes a newly active port, b) clears entries in an address table of the Layer 2 switch, and c) spoofs MAC addresses out of the newly active link. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of fault recovery by a switch in a local area network. A link failure is detected at a port of the switch. In response to the link failure detection, a MAC address table of the switch is cleared. Clearing the address table causes a discovery process to fill the table to begin immediately. In addition, a link on another port of the switch may be dropped to propagate the link failure.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to a method of providing dual-homing in a layer 2 switch. A determination is made as to whether a link is available to an upstream network on for a currently active port. If the link is unavailable, then the layer 2 switch a) performs a switchover such that the currently active port becomes a newly passive port, and a currently passive port becomes a newly active port, b) clears entries in an address table of the layer 2 switch, and c) spoofs MAC addresses out of the newly active link. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of fault recovery by a switch in a local area network. A link failure is detected at a port of the switch. In response to the link failure detection, a medium access control (MAC) address table of the switch is cleared. Clearing the address table causes a discovery process to fill the table to begin immediately. In addition, a link on another port of the switch may be dropped to propagate the link failure.

Abstract: One embodiment pertains to a switching device which is configured to provide multicast traffic management in a layer 2 network without layer 3 devices A specific embodiment relates to a method of implementing IGMP multicasting in a layer 2 network. IGMP packets are snooped by multiple switches in the layer 2 network. IGMP query messages are generated by each of the multiple switches. IGMP join report messages are forwarded by each of the multiple switches to all ports on which a querier is present. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of operating a network switch to provide wireless redundancy in a network. A keep-alive control packet is periodically transmitting over a wireless link, wherein the keep-alive control packet has a destination MAC address being that of the other switch on the other side of the wireless link, and wherein the keep-alive control packet is specifically designated to be identified as a keep-alive type packet. The specific designation may be implemented by having a source MAC address comprising a predetermined reserved MAC address. A key portion of one embodiment is the detection of the nearest neighbor in a point-to-point connection without confusion with another device elsewhere in the network. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to an apparatus for temperature control of an integrated circuit on a circuit board. The apparatus includes a first resistor on the circuit board, a second resistor on the circuit board, and a heat conductive material. The heat conductive material is attached to both the first and second resistors and to a surface of a package containing the integrated circuit. Another embodiment disclosed relates to an apparatus that provides both cooling and heating functionality in order to maintain the operational temperature of the IC within an acceptable range.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of fault recovery by a switch in a local area network. A link failure is detected at a port of the switch. In response to the link failure detection, a medium access control (MAC) address table of the switch is cleared. Clearing the address table causes a discovery process to fill the table to begin immediately. In addition, a link on another port of the switch may be dropped to propagate the link failure.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to a method of providing dual-homing in a layer 2 switch. A determination is made as to whether a link is available to an upstream network on for a currently active port. If the link is unavailable, then the layer 2 switch a) performs a switchover such that the currently active port becomes a newly passive port, and a currently passive port becomes a newly active port, b) clears entries in an address table of the layer 2 switch, and c) spoofs MAC addresses out of the newly active link. Other embodiments are also disclosed.