Enterasys Networks, Inc.

James F Eccles

Steven Beaudette

A switch for selectively precluding the issuance of interswitch resolve packets. When the address of a destination node is not able to be resolved by an interswitch resolve packet, the destination identifier for the packet is stored in an unresolved address table. The unresolved address table includes a destination identifier of the packet, a counter and one or more timers. When the value of the counter reaches a test count value it is determined whether or not the packets have been sent at a rate (indicated by a threshold value) that would unduly degrade the performance of the network. If the resolve packets are unduly loading the network, then the destination identifier is forwarded to a blocked address table. Subsequent issuance of interswitch resolve packets having the destination identifier are selectively filtered to ensure that they do not unduly degrade the performance of the computer network. Some resolve requests are still permitted so that when the node having the destination identifier is subsequently returned to the network, the address may be resolved. With such an arrangement, address resolution may be achieved while maintaining the performance of the computer network.

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Londonderry, NH, United States of America

James F Eccles