Abstract: Examples herein relate to crossbar switches and related circuitry. An example crossbar switch includes a plurality of abutted tiles forming a crossbar. The plurality of abutted tiles includes a plurality of edge tiles and at least one middle tile, where each side of each middle tile abuts an edge tile or another middle tile. Each middle tile includes data inputs connected to data outputs, switched data inputs connected to switched data outputs, and pipeline delay registers coupled to data inputs and switched data outputs to allow transmission of a data signal to change directions inside each middle tile. Each edge tile includes a crossbar input, a crossbar output, and a set of inputs, outputs, and pipeline delay registers to allow transmission of data signals from any side of the edge tile to any other side of the edge tile.

Abstract: Examples herein relate to crossbar switches and related circuitry. An example crossbar switch includes a plurality of abutted tiles forming a crossbar. The plurality of abutted tiles includes a plurality of edge tiles and at least one middle tile, where each side of each middle tile abuts an edge tile or another middle tile. Each middle tile includes data inputs connected to data outputs, switched data inputs connected to switched data outputs, and pipeline delay registers coupled to data inputs and switched data outputs to allow transmission of a data signal to change directions inside each middle tile. Each edge tile includes a crossbar input, a crossbar output, and a set of inputs, outputs, and pipeline delay registers to allow transmission of data signals from any side of the edge tile to any other side of the edge tile.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of sampling network traffic. A data packet is received by a network device. Information is extracted from fields in the data packet, and a look-up word is created using the extracted information. A content addressable memory is searched for entries matching the look-up word. If a match is found, then a sampling circuit is queried, and a response is received therefrom. The data packet may be sent to a destination port. In addition, if the response from the sampling circuit indicates that the data packet is chosen to be mirrored, then the data packet may be also sent to a mirror port. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of mirroring network traffic. A data packet is received by a network device, and an algorithm including randomization is applied to determine whether the data packet is selected to be mirrored. The packet is sent to a destination port, and if the data packet is selected to be mirrored, then the packet is also sent to a mirror port. Another embodiment of the invention relates to a networking device. The networking device includes at least a plurality of ports, a switching/routing engine, and a mirroring engine. The plurality of ports receive and transmit packets therefrom, and the switching/routing engine is coupled to the ports for transferring the packets therebetween. The mirroring engine is configured to apply an algorithm including randomization to select data packets for mirroring. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of monitoring network traffic. A network data packet is received. Network address information is extracted from the network data packet, and a data value is created therefrom. The data value is compared with a set of predetermined network address information. If a match is found, a determination is made whether said network data packet is to be mirrored based on a preselected sampling technique. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a method of providing redundancy in a ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) includes: detecting a defective entry in a ternary content addressable memory (TCAM); marking the defective entry so that the defective entry is visible to a software; and avoiding in using the defective entry. For data that normally would have been written into the defective entry, the data is written into an entry that is subsequent to the defective entry. In another embodiment, the redundancy is provided in a CAM instead of a TCAM.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a content addressable memory (CAM) supporting multiple width entries. The CAM includes a plurality of rows for storing bits in an array, and at least one width bit reserved in every row to indicate a width of an entry. At least two comparand registers are included, each comparand register configured to compare bits with a different subset of the rows in the array. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a method of searching a content addressable memory (CAM) supporting multiple width entries. A search word of a supported width is received, and a determination is made as to the width of the search word. Reserved width bits in comparand registers are set to indicate the width of the search word. The search word is loaded into the comparand registers, and a comparison operation is executed. Other embodiments are also disclosed.