Abstract: A network element includes ports, a hardware fabric, a packet classifier and control logic. The ports are configured to transmit and receive packets over a network. The fabric is configured to forward the packets between the ports. The packet classifier is configured to receive at least some of the packets and to specify an action to be applied to a packet in accordance with a set of rules. The classifier includes (i) multiple Ternary Content Addressable Memories (TCAMs), each TCAM configured to match the packet to a respective subset of the set of rules and to output a match result, and (ii) circuitry configured to specify the action to be applied to the packet based on match results produced for the packet by the multiple TCAMs, and based on a priority defined among the multiple TCAMs. The control logic is configured to apply the specified action to the packet.

Abstract: A network element includes ports, a hardware fabric, a packet classifier and control logic. The ports are configured to transmit and receive packets over a network. The fabric is configured to forward the packets between the ports. The packet classifier is configured to receive at least some of the packets and to specify an action to be applied to a packet in accordance with a set of rules. The classifier includes (i) multiple Ternary Content Addressable Memories (TCAMs), each TCAM configured to match the packet to a respective subset of the set of rules and to output a match result, and (ii) circuitry configured to specify the action to be applied to the packet based on match results produced for the packet by the multiple TCAMs, and based on a priority defined among the multiple TCAMs. The control logic is configured to apply the specified action to the packet.

Abstract: A method for communication includes configuring a router to forward data packets in a network in accordance with MPLS labels appended to the packets. A group of two or more of the interfaces is defined as a multi-path routing group in a forwarding table within the router. A plurality of records are stored in an ILM in the router, corresponding to different, respective label IDs, all pointing to the set of the entries in the forwarding table that belong to the multi-path routing group. Upon receiving in the router an incoming data packet having a label ID corresponding to any given record in the plurality, one of the interfaces in the group is selected, responsively to the given record and to the set of the entries in the forwarding table to which the given record points, for forwarding the incoming data packet without changing the label ID.

Abstract: A method for communication includes configuring a router to forward data packets in a network in accordance with MPLS labels appended to the packets. A group of two or more of the interfaces is defined as a multi-path routing group in a forwarding table within the router. A plurality of records are stored in an ILM in the router, corresponding to different, respective label IDs, all pointing to the set of the entries in the forwarding table that belong to the multi-path routing group. Upon receiving in the router an incoming data packet having a label ID corresponding to any given record in the plurality, one of the interfaces in the group is selected, responsively to the given record and to the set of the entries in the forwarding table to which the given record points, for forwarding the incoming data packet without changing the label ID.