Patent ID: 9621419
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: H04L

Claim:
1. A method comprising: performing configuration operations, wherein the configuration operations are performed by a controlling network device for an adjunct network device, wherein assigning port identifiers to a subset of ports included in the adjunct network device, generating forwarding information for storage in the adjunct network device, wherein the forwarding information comprises a forwarding table, the forwarding table comprises a plurality of entries, and each entry identifies an address and a port associated with the address, wherein the address comprises a media access control (MAC) address, and transmitting the forwarding information to the adjunct network device, wherein the adjunct network device is configured to make forwarding decisions for a plurality of packets using the forwarding information, and the controlling network device is configured to perform forwarding operations, wherein the forwarding operations are based on the port identifiers, and the forwarding operations comprise receiving a packet comprising local forwarding information generated by the adjunct network device in response to the adjunct network device being unable to forward the packet locally, wherein the local forwarding information comprises an indication that the forwarding information is inconsistent with the local forwarding information, and wherein a second network device assigns port identifiers to a second subset of the ports of the adjunct network device.