Abstract: A method of forwarding data in a network switch fabric is disclosed. An incoming data packet is received at a first port of the fabric and a first packet portion, less than a full packet length, is read to determine particular packet information including an opcode value. The opcode value allows the fabric to determine the packet type, sucha a whether the packet is a broadcast packet, a unicast packet, a multicast packet, etc. Based on the opcode value read, a particular forwarding table of a plurality forwarding tables is read and an egress port bitmap is determined based on entries read from the particular forwarding table. The incoming data packet is then forwarded based on the egress port bitmap. In addition, the architecture of the switch fabric is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forwarding data in a network switch fabric is disclosed. An incoming data packet is received at a first port of the fabric and a first packet portion, less than a full packet length, is read to determine particular packet information, the particular packet information including a source address and a destination address. An egress port bitmap is determined based on a lookup in a forwarding table and it is determined if the destination address belongs to a trunk group of trunked ports. The incoming data packet is forwarded based on the egress port bitmap, when the destination address does not belong to the trunk group. When the destination address does belong to the trunk group, a particular trunked port of the trunk group is determined and the incoming data packet is forwarded thereto.

Abstract: A switch using indicators for address learning. The switch has a first activator configured to control a first indicator to indicate when a source address needs to be learned and when a source address has been learned. A second activator is configured to control a second indicator to indicate when a destination address has not been learned and when a destination address has been learned. Finally, a third activator is configured to control a third indicator to indicate when a source address has not been learned in all switches.

Abstract: A method of forwarding data in a network switch fabric is disclosed. An incoming data packet is received at a first port of the fabric and a first packet portion, less than a full packet length, is read to determine particular packet information, the particular packet information including a source address and a destination address. An egress port bitmap is determined based on a lookup in a forwarding table and it is determined if the destination address belongs to a trunk group of trunked ports. The incoming data packet is forwarded based on the egress port bitmap, when the destination address does not belong to the trunk group. When the destination address does belong to the trunk group, a particular trunked port of the trunk group is determined and the incoming data packet is forwarded thereto.

Abstract: A network switch for network communications includes at least one data port interface supporting a plurality of data ports transmitting and receiving data. A CPU interface is configured to communicate with a CPU, and an internal memory communicates with the at least one data port interface. A memory management unit is provided for communicating data from at least one data port interface and the memory. A communication channel is provided, for communicating data and messaging information between the at least one data port interface, the memory, and the memory management unit. The configuration of the network switch also includes a fast filtering process, with the fast filtering processor filtering packets coming into the at least one data port interface. Selective filter action is taken based upon a filtering result.

Abstract: A network switch for network communications is disclosed. The switch includes a first data port interface supporting at least one data port transmitting and receiving data at a first data rate and a second data port interface supporting at least one data port transmitting and receiving data at a second data rate. The switch also has a CPU interface configured to communicate with a CPU and a memory management unit for communicating data from at least one of the first and second data port interfaces and a memory. It also includes a communication channel for communicating data and messaging information between the first and second data port interfaces and the memory management unit and a plurality of lookup tables, including an address resolution lookup table and a VLAN table.

Abstract: A method of handling data packets in a network switch is disclosed. The method includes placing incoming packets into an input queue and applying the input data packets to an address resolution logic engine. A lookup is performed to determine whether certain packet fields are stored in a lookup table; and the result of the lookup is also examined to determine if it provides a trunk group ID for a particular data packet of the input data packets. When the lookup provides a trunk group ID, the trunk group ID is used to determine an egress port and the particular data packet is forwarded to the egress port. Alternatively, the packet is discarded, forwarded, or modified based upon the result of the lookup, where the lookup does not provide a trunk group ID. A network switch using the method is also disclosed and methods directed to mirroring of data packets are also disclosed.