Abstract: At least a portion of the data units in a bridge/router are processed by logic circuits according to cast type. The cast type, source address and destination address of an incoming data unit are determined by examining the header. For a unicast data unit, the source address and destination address are employed to obtain a transmit port indicator from memory, and the unicast data unit is directed to the port indicated by the transmit port indicator. For a non-unicast data unit, the source address and destination address are employed to obtain a first port mask that indicates valid ports for receipt of the data unit and a second port mask that indicates valid ports for transmission of the data unit from memory. The first and second port masks are combined to generate a third port mask, and the non-unicast data unit is directed to the ports indicated by the third port mask.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for viewing a configuration of a computer network by polling a plurality of switches and routers present in the network to obtain copies of information stored in databases on the switches and routers. The present invention determines from this combined database is the status of the links, switches and routers, as well as uses software tools to determine the status of the network and its devices. The devices are then graphically displayed according to physical connectivity and status. Each status being displayed differently.