Abstract: A method and apparatus is described which pertains to load sharing/trunking in a communication device used in unicast and/or multicasting interchange of information. A plurality of available ports in the interface cards of the device is identified. More than one port is selected to be configured as a Multi-Link Trunk (MLT) even through the ports may be located on different interface cards.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described which pertains to load sharing/trunking in a communication device used in unicast and/or multicasting interchange of information. A plurality of available ports in the interface cards of the device is identified. More than one port is selected to be configured as a Multi-Link Trunk (MLT) even through the ports may be located on different interface cards.

Abstract: A method and apparatus selecting between primary switching fabric in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network includes a Tap Mux controller that monitors the signals being transmitted to each of four fabric access devices. As each of the fabric access devices receives nine communication lines, the Tap Mux controller monitors a total for 36 communication lines on the primary switching fabric. Because the switching fabric is completely redundant, however, the Tap Mux controller also monitors a total of 36 communication lines on the protection switching fabric. The Tap Mux controller, therefore, includes logic that defines 72 state machines that each monitor one of the 72 lines. Each state machine, in the described embodiment, initiates a defined length time window and counts errors therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described which pertains to load sharing/trunking in a communication device used in unicast and/or multicasting interchange of information. A plurality of available ports in the interface cards of the device is identified. More than one port is selected to be configured as a Multi-Link Trunk (MLT) even through the ports may be located on different interface cards.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a media access controller supporting redundant links are provided. According to one aspect of the present invention a media access controller includes a two transceivers for communication with an source and/or destination port. Each transceiver has a receiver and transmitter. When the media access controller sets up a physical link to the desired source and/or destination port each transceiver sets up a separate physical link to the source and/or destination port. One of the physical links is the primary physical link and the other is a redundant or backup physical link. By using two physical links if a failure of interrupt occurs on the primary physical link then a switch-over is performed to use the redundant physical link.