Method and apparatus for updating and synchronizing forwarding tables in a distributed network switch
US6735198B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 21, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 11, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L49/354
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A mechanism and technique updates and synchronizes forwarding tables contained on line cards that are interconnected by a switch fabric of a distributed network switch. The network switch is preferably a L3 or L4 switch comprising a plurality of forwarding engines distributed among the line cards. Each forwarding engine has an associated forwarding table, which preferably includes a L2 portion and L3/L4 portions. The L2 portion of the table is used to execute forwarding decision operations for frames forwarded among ports of the line cards, whereas the L3/L4 portions of the table are used to execute shortcut and forwarding operations for frames routed among the ports. The mechanism comprises a media access control (MAC) notification (MN) frame for updating and synchronizing the location of a destination port stored in the L2 portions of the forwarding tables.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.