Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for modifying standard VLAN tags to perform network packet switching are described. In some implementations, a data packet can be received, and the data format of the data packet can be determined. Then, switching information associated with data package management is generated based on the data format of the data packet. The data packet can be modified using the generated switching information. For example, the modified data packet can be extended by a predetermined length to accommodate additional switching information.

Abstract: A network device comprises a plurality of physical ports, and a packet processing pipeline coupled to the plurality of physical ports. The packet processing pipeline is configured to assign a virtual port from a plurality of virtual ports to a packet received via one of the physical ports, wherein a quantity of the plurality of virtual ports is larger than a quantity of the plurality of physical ports, and wherein, for each of at least some of the physical ports, multiple virtual ports correspond to one physical port. The packet processing pipeline is also configured to assign a virtual domain from a plurality of virtual domains to the packet based on the assigned virtual port, and process the packet based on one or more of i) the assigned virtual port, ii) the assigned virtual domain, and iii) a header field of the packet, including determining zero, one, or more physical ports to which the packet is to be forwarded.

Abstract: The invention provides novel methods of forwarding multicast data packets to selected egress ports in a MAC bridging environment. A multicast data packet is received via an ingress port. A source IP address and a destination multicast IP address are retrieved from the multicast packet. In a forwarding database, different groups of egress ports correspond to different combinations of a source address, a destination multicast address, and a virtual local area network identifier (VLAN-ID). The forwarding database is accessed, based on the retrieved source address, the retrieved destination multicast address, and a VLAN-ID, to thereby determine a corresponding group of egress ports. The multicast packet is then forwarded to the corresponding group of egress ports.

Abstract: A methods, apparatus and computer memory are provided for packet scheduling. A processor polls queues in a round robin fashion and schedules for transmission onto a link a packet in each queue with no deficit before scheduling for transmission onto the link a packet in each queue with a deficit. A credit is allocated to each queue with the deficit based on a proportional weight, until each queue with the deficit has a credit.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention offloads the generation and monitoring of test packets from a Central processing Unit (CPU) to a dedicated network integrated circuit, such as a router, bridge or switch chip associated with the CPU. The CPU may download test routines and test data to the network IC, which then generates the test packets, identifies and handles received test packets, collects test statistics, and performs other test functions all without loading the CPU. The CPU may be notified when certain events occur, such as when throughput or jitter thresholds for the network are exceeded.

Abstract: An apparatus having a corresponding method and computer program comprises a processor; a plurality of ports to transmit and receive packets of data, the plurality of ports comprising a processor port in communication with the processor, the packets comprising broadcast packets and multicast packets; a memory to store a table that associates the processor port with one or more Internet protocol (IP) addresses; and a forwarding engine to transfer the packets between the ports, to transfer each of the broadcast packets to the processor port only when the table associates a target IP address of the broadcast packet with the processor port, and to transfer each of the multicast packets to the processor port only when the table associates a target IP address of the multicast packet with the processor port.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer-readable media for a switch comprising a plurality of network ports and a central processing unit (CPU) interface comprises receiving, on one of the network ports, a packet comprising a source media access control (MAC) address; sending, to the CPU interface, a request to approve an association between the one of the network ports and the source MAC address when no request to approve the association between the one of the network ports and the source MAC address has been sent to the CPU interface; and sending, to the CPU interface, the request to approve the association between the one of the network ports and the source MAC address when an association between the source MAC address and a different one of the network ports has been approved.

Abstract: A method of managing network traffic. The method includes initializing a database in communication with a network device. The database includes a number of MAC address entries and a network flooding entry associated with each of the number of MAC address entries. Each of the number of MAC address entries is associated with a station known to the network. The method also includes receiving network traffic at the network device. The network traffic is associated with a MAC source address. The method further includes determining whether the MAC source address is included in the database, automatically learning a location associated with the MAC source address, and forwarding the network traffic over the network if the MAC source address is included in the database. Additionally, the method includes dropping or trapping the network traffic if the MAC source address is not included in the database. Dropping the network traffic is performed without interaction with a CPU.

Abstract: A stack unit for a stackable network switch, the stack unit having corresponding methods and computer programs, comprises a network port to exchange packets with a network; two stacking interfaces each to exchange the packets over a respective stacking link with another stack unit, wherein each stacking interface is assigned to the other stacking interface as an alternate stacking interface; and a forwarding engine to transfer the packets among the stacking interfaces and network port; wherein when one of the stacking links is down, the respective stacking interface toggles a loop flag in each packet received from the forwarding engine, and returns each received packet to the forwarding engine; and wherein the forwarding engine transfers each packet received from one of the stacking interfaces to the respective alternate stacking interface when the loop flag for the packet is set.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention offloads the generation and monitoring of test packets from a Central processing Unit (CPU) to a dedicated network integrated circuit, such as a router, bridge or switch chip associated with the CPU. The CPU may download test routines and test data to the network IC, which then generates the test packets, identifies and handles received test packets, collects test statistics, and performs other test functions all without loading the CPU. The CPU may be notified when certain events occur, such as when throughput or jitter thresholds for the network are exceeded.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for modifying standard VLAN tags to perform network packet switching. The method includes receiving a data packet at a port of a network switch and determining whether the data packet has a virtual local area network (VLAN) tagged frame. If the received data packet has a VLAN tagged frame, then the method further includes modifying and encoding fixed portions of the VLAN tag frame with switching information. The switching information includes information for central management of data packet flow through the network switch.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention offloads the generation and monitoring of test packets from a Central processing Unit (CPU) to a dedicated network integrated circuit, such as a router, bridge or switch chip associated with the CPU. The CPU may download test routines and test data to the network IC, which then generates the test packets, identifies and handles received test packets, collects test statistics, and performs other test functions all without loading the CPU. The CPU may be notified when certain events occur, such as when throughput or jitter thresholds for the network are exceeded.

Abstract: An Ethernet network device includes a port logic module that is associated with a device port of the Ethernet network device. A packet processing module includes an ingress processing module that receives an incoming packet and that generates a control traffic tag. An ingress command execution module receives the incoming packet and the control traffic tag, generates a duplicate packet that is identical to the incoming packet, and generates a device interface code that identifies the port logic module based on the control traffic tag. A control traffic routing module receives the duplicate packet and the device interface code and forwards the duplicate packet to the port logic module. A network traffic analysis device receives the duplicate packet. The port logic module replaces a first destination header of the duplicate packet with a second destination header that is identical to a destination header of the incoming packet.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention offloads the generation and monitoring of test packets from a Central processing Unit (CPU) to a dedicated network integrated circuit, such as a router, bridge or switch chip associated with the CPU. The CPU may download test routines and test data to the network IC, which then generates the test packets, identifies and handles received test packets, collects test statistics, and performs other test functions all without loading the CPU. The CPU may be notified when certain events occur, such as when throughput or jitter thresholds for the network are exceeded.