Cray UK Limited

Gnodal Limited

Cray Hk Limited

Anthony Michael Ford

David Charles Hewson

Mark Owen Homewood

Jon Beecroft

Edward James Turner

James Tilbrook Corke

Neil Alexander Shute

A multi-path network for use in a bridge, switch, router, hub or the like, includes a plurality of network ports; a plurality of network elements; and a plurality of network links interconnecting the network elements and the network ports, for transporting data packets. Each network element has a fault monitor for detecting faults on the network links to which the network element is connected, a plurality of dynamically selectable output ports and output port selection mechanism. Each network element also being adapted to communicate the existence of a fault back to one or more other network elements so that network elements connected to the faulty network link can be bypassed, and each network element being adapted to update the output port selection mechanism when communication of the existence of a fault is received so that only those output ports which ensure the faulty network link is bypassed are dynamically selectable. Also, a method of managing faults in a multi-path network utilizes a similar methodology to insure that identified faults are avoided.

Multi-path network with fault detection and dynamic adjustments

A switch device for use in telecommunications apparatus, the switch device comprising: a substantially planar substrate having first substantially planar face and an opposing second substantially planar face; a first plurality of ports mounted on the first face of the substrate, and having a first arrangement of locating pins which extend into the substrate from the first face towards the second face thereof; and a second plurality of ports mounted on the second face of the substrate, and having a second arrangement of locating pins which extend into the substrate from the second face towards the first face thereof, wherein the first arrangement of locating pins is offset with respect to the second arrangement of locating pins.

Switch device

The invention provides an Ethernet bridge or router comprising a network fabric adapted to provide interconnectivity to a plurality of Ethernet ports, each of the Ethernet ports being adapted to receive and/or transmit Ethernet frames, and wherein the Ethernet bridge or router further comprises an encapsulator connected to receive Ethernet Protocol Data Units from the Ethernet ports, wherein the encapsulator is operable to generate a Fabric Protocol Data Unit from a received Ethernet Protocol Data Unit, the Fabric Protocol Data Unit comprising a header portion, and a payload portion which comprises the Ethernet Protocol Data Unit concerned, and wherein the encapsulator is operable to transform Ethernet destination address information from the Ethernet Protocol Data Unit into a routing definition for the network fabric, and to include this routing definition in the header portion of the Fabric Protocol Data Unit. Also provided is a method of data delivery across a network.

Method of data delivery across a network fabric in a router or Ethernet bridge

The present invention provides a multi-path network for use in a bridge, switch, router, hub or the like, comprising a plurality of network ports adapted for connection with one or more devices, each device having a different identifying address data; a plurality of network elements; and a plurality of network links interconnecting the network elements and connecting the network elements to the network ports, wherein the multi-path network further comprises separately addressable memory elements each adapted for storing device address data and the multi-path network is adapted to distribute a plurality of device address data amongst the plurality of memory elements.

Multi-path network

The present invention provides a method of limiting the frequency of floods within a data network, the floods arising as a data frame is routed to an unknown destination, the method comprising the steps of: receiving on an ingress port a data frame intended for a destination station and containing a MAC address of that station; checking the destination MAC address with the contents of a MAC table; and thereby determining whether the data frame is to be routed, discarded or flooded to all ports except the ingress port; and respectively routing, discarding or flooding the data frame to all ports except the ingress port. The present invention further provides a method of populating a MAC table within an Ethernet network with entries relating a MAC station address to a port to which it is connected, the method comprising the steps of: receiving on an ingress port a data frame intended for a destination station and containing a MAC address of that station; checking the destination MAC address with the contents of a MAC table; and thereby determining whether the destination MAC address and ingress port are to be written to the MAC table and, if so writing the destination MAC address and ingress port to the MAC table; and flooding the data frame to all ports except the ingress port.

Growing community of inventors

Bristol, United Kingdom

Anthony Michael Ford