Abstract: A switch device that includes a switch pipeline stage to process packet data may selectively clock multiple pipeline sub-stages within the switch pipeline stage. The switch device may provide a first clock to processing logic of a first sub-stage independently of providing a second clock to a processing logic of second sub-stage within the switch pipeline stage. Clocking logic associated with a current switch pipeline stage may receive an event indication, such as an event indication from a previous pipeline stage responsive to processing of packet data by the previous pipeline stage. In response, the clocking logic associated with the current switch pipeline stage may determine a clocking time to issue a clock to a selected pipeline sub-stage in the current switch pipeline stage. The clocking logic may also issue the clock to the selected pipeline sub-stage at the clocking time.

Abstract: A hash table supports extended entries. The extended entries permit a base entry to extend its associated data into one or more neighboring entries. Extended entries thereby provide a mechanism through which a hash table entry may store additional data compared to a base entry. Extended entries may coexist with base entries in the hash table. The hash table thereby provides the flexibility to adapt dynamically to meet system requirements and to balance the needs of additional data storage by blending the number of extended entries (that each store more data than a base entry) and the number of base entries (each storing less data than an extended entry).

Abstract: A switch device that includes a switch pipeline stage to process packet data may selectively clock multiple pipeline sub-stages within the switch pipeline stage. The switch device may provide a first clock to processing logic of a first sub-stage independently of providing a second clock to a processing logic of second sub-stage within the switch pipeline stage. Clocking logic associated with a current switch pipeline stage may receive an event indication, such as an event indication from a previous pipeline stage responsive to processing of packet data by the previous pipeline stage. In response, the clocking logic associated with the current switch pipeline stage may determine a clocking time to issue a clock to a selected pipeline sub-stage in the current switch pipeline stage. The clocking logic may also issue the clock to the selected pipeline sub-stage at the clocking time.

Abstract: A hash table supports extended entries. The extended entries permit a base entry to extend its associated data into one or more neighboring entries. Extended entries thereby provide a mechanism through which a hash table entry may store additional data compared to a base entry. Extended entries may coexist with base entries in the hash table. The hash table thereby provides the flexibility to adapt dynamically to meet system requirements and to balance the needs of additional data storage by blending the number of extended entries (that each store more data than a base entry) and the number of base entries (each storing less data than an extended entry).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing parity and/or ECC operations are disclosed. An example method includes determining that an opcode is being transmitted on a bus and determining if the transmitted opcode is a memory operation. In the event the transmitted opcode is a memory write operation, the example method includes calculating a parity bit for data associated with the opcode, writing the calculated parity bit to a parity table and writing the data to a memory. The example method also includes, in the event the transmitted opcode is the memory read operation, recovering data from a previously written memory, calculating a parity bit for the recovered data, recovering a previously stored parity bit for the recovered data, comparing the parity bit for the recovered data with the previously stored parity bit and, in the event the recovered data parity bit does not match the previously stored parity bit, providing an error notification.

Abstract: A network device for processing packets. The network devices includes a ingress module for performing lookups for layer 2 switching and performing operations for maintaining a layer 2 table. When the ingress module updates the layer 2 table, the ingress module records the operation performed on the layer 2 table in a modification buffer. Entries are added to the modification buffer when the layer 2 table is modified and in the order in which the layer 2 table was modified. The network device thus enables reconstruction of the layer 2 table by performing the operations in the modification buffer.

Abstract: A method of handling a datagram in a network device is disclosed. The steps include receiving a datagram, with the datagram having multiple field values, at a port of a network device, parsing the received datagram to obtain the field values, applying the parsed field values to a Ternary Content Addressable Memory (TCAM), determining matches between the parsed field values and predetermined criteria in the TCAM, indexing into a policy table based on the determined matches to obtain an action entry and taking an action based on the obtained action entry.