Cypress Semiconductor Corporation

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.

Avago Technologies International Sales Pte. Limited

Brocade Communication Systems LLC

Pankaj K Jha

Mitri Halabi

Vivek Agarwal

Suresh Vobbilisetty

Ram Dular Singh

Phanidhar Koganti

Mythilikanth Raman

Raju Shekarappa

Ananda Rajagopal

Mahesh K Pujara

Michael Timothy Moore

Victor So

One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch in a network of interconnected switches. The switch includes a storage device, a hardware management apparatus, and a layer-2 management apparatus. The storage device stores a forwarding table, which includes an entry comprising a MAC address and an egress port for the MAC address. The hardware management apparatus determines whether a destination MAC address of a frame is present in a hardware table in memory of the switch. The layer-2 management apparatus, in response to a determination that the destination MAC address is not present in the hardware table, looks up a first entry comprising the destination MAC address in the forwarding table, and creates a second entry comprising the destination MAC address in the hardware table based on the first entry.

Progressive MAC address learning

Techniques for provisioning single or multistage networks using Ethernet Service Instances (ESIs). In one embodiment, an ESI is a logical entity or object that stores information that may be used to provision a network. An ESI may represent a logical entity that identifies a grouping of elements of a network or network device and associated attributes. Hierarchical relationships may be created between ESIs. The hierarchical relationships are used to perform packet-level processing including performing network packet encapsulations.

Provisioning single or multistage networks using ethernet service instances (ESIs)

A system is provided for facilitating assignment of a virtual routing node identifier to a non-routing node. During operation, the system assigns to a non-routing node coupled to a switch a virtual routing node identifier unique to the non-routing node. In addition, the system communicates reachability information corresponding to the virtual routing node identifier to other switches in the network.

Method and system for extending routing domain to non-routing end stations

In one embodiment, the invention is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a framer to receive packets, to determine a type associated with received packets, to pass data packets to a network processor, and to pass control packets to a host processor. The apparatus also includes a processor coupled to the framer to control the framer.

Method and apparatus for separation of control and data packets

A router generally comprising a first port, a second port, and a circuit. The first port may be configured to receive a frame having a network layer protocol identification. The second port may be connectable to a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network. The circuit may be configured to (i) insert an MPLS label into the frame while retaining the network layer protocol identification and (ii) present the frame in the MPLS network per the MPLS label.

Technique for multiprotocol transport using MPLS (multi-protocol label switching)

An apparatus generally comprising a circuit and an interface device is disclosed. The circuit may be configured to (i) generate a plurality of test signals to simultaneously stimulate a device and a model of the device during a test and (ii) receive a plurality of model signals generated by the model in response to the test signals. The interface device may be configured to receive a plurality of device signals generated by the device in response the test signals.

Simultaneously driving a hardware device and a software model during a test

A frame configured to (i) be transmitted on a network and (ii) store data packets in a plurality of channels. One or more of the plurality of channels may be configured to store one or more fragments of the data packets.

Hybrid data transport scheme over optical networks

An apparatus comprising one or more nodes. The apparatus may be configured to transport one or more packets within a frame. The one or more nodes may be configured to add and/or drop at least one of the one or more packet from the frame.

A frame configured to transmit information via a network, comprising one or more packets each comprising a header error check portion and a payload error check portion.

A method for delineating a frame. The method generally comprises the steps of (A) receiving the frame comprising (i) a length value incorporating a payload error detection length, (ii) a length error detection value, (iii) a payload data, and (iv) a payload error detection value having the payload error detection length, wherein the payload error detection value and the payload data occupy separate fields of the frame, (B) performing an error detection on the length value based upon the length error detection value, and (C) retrieving the payload data and the payload error detection value based upon the length value in response to passing the error detection on the length value.

Technique for payload-independent frame delineation engine for optical data transport

An apparatus having an interface connectable to a network. The interface may be configured to transmit information via a frame in the network. The frame may have a packet envelope carrying a plurality of packets. A first packet may have one or more labels configured to control routing of the first packet through the network and a payload to carry the information.

One aspect of the invention comprises an apparatus comprising a frame for transmitting information via a network, comprising one or more packets of different data types and lengths located anywhere inside the frame. Another aspect of the present invention comprises a network configured to transfer a plurality of frames and one or more nodes coupled to the network. Each of the one or more nodes may be configured to receive and/or transmit one or more of the plurality of frames. Each of the plurality of frames may be configured to store one of a number of packets of different data types and different data lengths, anywhere within the frame.

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Fremont, CA, United States of America

Pankaj K Jha