Method and apparatus for searching forwarding table

Abstract

A method and apparatus for searching a forwarding table are provided. The apparatus includes: a data storage unit storing a forwarding table including a plurality of forwarding entries aligned in the order of MAC address values and stored in each group after being classified into a plurality of groups and a plurality of forwarding databases having hash keys corresponding to the groups and; a hashing unit transforming an externally input MAC address into a hash key and selecting a search group and a search-forwarding entry by respectively using some bits and the other bits of the hash key; and a port information output unit outputting output port information of the search-forwarding entry, when the input MAC address is the same as a MAC address extracted from the search-forwarding entry and outputting output port information after searching and acquiring a forwarding entry having the input MAC address while dividing a search area in the search group, when the input MAC address is different from the extracted MAC address. Accordingly, it is possible to speedily search a forwarding table.