Abstract: A computer implemented method includes granting a tenant administrator client machine access to a cloud hosted tenant service joined to a directory service. A bulk token for the tenant is obtained in response to a request received from the tenant administrator client machine. An identifier of an authorized tenant client to the cloud hosted tenant service is received and results in the provisioning of a tenant client virtual machine in a cloud service for the authorized tenant client in accordance with a specified provisioning package associated with the bulk token. The tenant client virtual machine is then joined to the directory service. On receipt of an authorized client token at the cloud hosted tenant service from a tenant client machine, the tenant client machine is provided a connection to the tenant client virtual machine.

Abstract: A method of communication between an Ethernet Media Access Controller (MAC) and a physical interface (PHY) is disclosed. The method includes establishing communication between the MAC and the PHY via a first serial link in accordance with a Serializer Deserializer (SERDES) protocol. In a data transfer mode, data is transferred along the first serial link. Idle frames are transferred within an idle time gap along the link in an idle mode. The PHY is managed by encoding Management Data Input/Output (MDIO) information in one or more MDIO frames, and transferring the one or more MDIO frames within the idle time gap along the first serial link.

Abstract: This invention discloses an improved address table apparatus that includes an address bus for receiving input data packets and for hashing a designated bucket number and extracting a key from each of the data packets. The address table apparatus further includes a plurality of memory banks connected to the address bus wherein each memory bank includes a plurality of memory buckets for storing a designation address (DA) and a port number in each of the buckets. The address table apparatus further includes a comparand bus connected to the address bus for receiving the key therefrom. The address table apparatus further includes a plurality of comparators each corresponding to one of the memory banks for receiving the designation address (DA) and the port number from the designated bucket from a corresponding memory bank. The comparators further connected to the comparand bus for receiving and comparing the key to the address from the designated bucket in each of the memory banks.