High speed protocol for interconnecting modular network devices

Abstract

A network switch for network communications is disclosed. The switch includes a first data port interface, supporting at least one data port transmitting and receiving data at a first data rate and a second data port interface, supporting at least one data port transmitting and receiving data at a second data rate. A memory management unit for communicating data from at least one of the first data port interface and the second data port interface and a memory is also included. The switch uses a communication channel for communicating data and messaging information between the first data port interface, the second data port interface, and the memory management unit. The switch also has a plurality of lookup tables, including an address resolution lookup table, a VLAN table and module port table. The network switch has a unique module identifier and of the first data port interface and the second data port interface is configured to determine forwarding information from a header for an incoming data packet received at a port of the one data port interface. The port interfaces are configured to determine the forwarding information from the header and to determine a destination module identifier for a destination port for the data packet from the module port table.