Abstract: A multiport switch distributes conversations over links in a trunk. The multiport switch includes receiver ports, transmitter ports, and a routing engine. The receiver ports receive data frames belonging to one or more of the conversations. The transmitter ports transmit the received data frames over the links in the trunk. The routing engine distributes the conversations over the links in the trunk by identifying at least one field in each of the received data frames, assigning each of the received data frames to a corresponding one of the one or more conversations based on the identified fields, and selecting the links in the trunk over which to transmit the received data frames based on the conversation assignments.

Abstract: A network switch includes network switch ports, each including a port filter configured for detecting user-selected attributes from a received layer 2 type data frame. Each port filter, upon detecting a user-selected attribute in a received layer 2 type data frame, sends a signal to a switching module indicating the determined presence of the user-selected attribute, enabling the switching module to generate a switching decision based on the corresponding user-selected attribute and based on a corresponding user-defined switching policy. The switching policy may specify a priority class, or a guaranteed quality of service (e.g., a guaranteed bandwidth), ensuring that the received layer 2 type data frame receives the appropriate switching support. The user-selected attributes for the port filter and the user-defined switching policy for the switching module are programmed by a host processor.

Abstract: A multiport switching device includes a configuration table that stores associations between addresses of subnets directly connected to the switching device and the port number of the multiport switching device that leads to the subnet. A host processor connected to the multiport switching device updates and maintains the configuration table. A remote processor communicates with the switching device through the host processor. To facilitate the communication of the remote processor with the multiport switch, the host processor executes a TCP/IP stack and the multiport switch is assigned a unique IP address.

Abstract: A network switch includes network switch ports, each including a port filter configured for detecting user-selected attributes from a received layer 2 frame. Each port filter, upon detecting a user-selected attribute in a received layer 2 frame, sends a signal to a switching module indicating the determined presence of the user-selected attribute, for example whether the data packet has a prescribed priority value. The network switch includes a flow control module that determines which of the network switch ports should output a flow control frame based on the determined depletion of network switch resources and based on the corresponding priority value of the network traffic on each network switch port. Hence, any network switch port that receives high priority traffic does not output a flow control frame to the corresponding network station, enabling that network station to continue transmission of the high priority traffic.

Abstract: A network switch, configured for performing layer 2 and layer 3 switching in an Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) network without blocking of incoming data packets, includes a network switch port having a filter (i.e., a packet classifier module) configured for evaluating an incoming data packet on an instantaneous basis, immediately upon receipt at the network switch port. The filter performs simultaneous comparisons between the incoming data stream of the data packet and multiple templates configured for identifying respective data protocols. Each template is composed of a plurality of min terms, wherein each min term specifies a prescribed comparison operation within a selected data byte of the incoming data packet. The templates may be programmed by a user and stored in an internal min term memory. Moreover, the multiple simultaneous comparisons enable the network switch to perform layer 3 switching for 100 Mbps and gigabit networks without blocking in the network switch.

Abstract: A network device that controls the communication of data frames between stations includes a memory that stores frame pointers that point to addresses in an external memory. The data frames are stored in the external memory while the network device generates frame forwarding information for the respective data frames. The network device divides the available frame pointers into a number of categories corresponding to priorities associated with the data frames. When a frame is received at the network device, frame processing logic determines the priority of the data frame and checks whether a frame pointer corresponding to that particular priority is available. If no frame pointer corresponding to that priority is available, the multiport switch drops the data frame.

Abstract: A network switch, configured for performing layer 2 and layer 3 switching in an Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) network without blocking of incoming data packets, includes network switch ports, each including a packet classifier module configured for generating a packet signature based on information within a received data packet and hash action values specified within a user-programmable template. In particular, the network switch stores a plurality of user-programmable templates, each configured for identifying a corresponding class of data packet. Each user-programmable template includes hash action values specifying initiation and termination of a hash function based on a byte offset of a received data packet.

Abstract: A multiport network device includes output ports, internal rules checking logic, a port filter, and input ports. The input ports receive data frames and transfer the data frames to the internal rules checking logic and the port filter. The internal rules checking logic determines the appropriate output ports for the frame. At potentially the same time, the port filter determines priority information for the frame. The port filter informs the internal rules checking logic when it has completed determining the priority information by transmitting an end-of-frame signal to the internal rules checking logic. In response, if the internal rules checking logic has completed determining the output ports for the frame, it assembles a frame descriptor corresponding to the frame and transmits the frame descriptor to the appropriate output port(s).

Abstract: A centralized policy server sends policy messages, that describe network management policy, to network switches. Each policy message includes a packet attribute that enables a network switch to uniquely identify a received data packet, and either a priority level or network switch action that describes the switching operation to be performed by the network switch. The network switches are configured for implementing the network management policy by storing switching actions for prescribed data packets, and templates that specify frame data parameters for identifying the prescribed data packets. Each network switch, configured for performing layer 2 and layer 3 switching in an Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) network without blocking of incoming data packets, includes in each network switch port a packet classifier module configured for classifying a received data packet based on a template generated based on the policy messages.

Abstract: A gigabit network node having a media access controller outputting data frames at gigabit rates uses multiple 100 MB/s media interface links coupled to a physical interface to enable implementation of a gigabit network using low cost data links. A modified reconciliation layer, also referred to as a media interface, receives a data frame from a gigabit MAC and selectively stores the received packet data into one of a plurality of transmit buffers associated with the respective 100 MB/s media interface links, according to a path selection arbitration logic in the media interface. The path selection arbitration logic may operate according to an equal priority scheme, where each received data frame is routed according to a round-robin scheme.

Abstract: A Gigabit network node having a media access controller outputting packet data at Gigabit rates uses multiple 100 MB/s physical layer links coupled to a physical interface having a data router to enable implementation of a Gigabit network using low cost data links. A modified reconciliation layer, also referred to as a multi-Media Independent Interface (m-MII) selectively transmits at least a portion of the packet data from the MAC onto the plurality of physical layer links. The physical m-MII interface may output separate packet data on separate physical layer links to increase the effective data transmission rate, may output the same packet data on multiple transmission paths to improve quality of service by establishing redundant data links, or any combination thereof. Priority channels may also be provided on selected physical layer links to provide quality of service and cost of service options within an Ethernet work group environment.