Patent · US Active

Systems and methods for implementing weighted cost multi-path using two-level equal cost multi-path tables

US9246821B1 · kind B1 · utility

34Cited by
2References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 28, 2014
Grant dateJan 26, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 8, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L45/24
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for providing a network switch for implementing weighted cost multi-pathing (WCMP). In some implementations, the switch can implement equal cost multi-pathing (ECMP) using ECMP forwarding tables. The ECMP forwarding table may include more than one output port associated with a destination address of an incoming packet. The ECMP forwarding table may become undesirably large if unequal weights were assigned to the output ports. A multi-level ECMP table can be implemented that can allow assigning weights to the output ports while being relatively small. The multi-level ECMP table can include a first level where each entry includes at most a single output port. A second level can include entries having one or more output ports.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.