Patent ID: 9025495
Filing Date: 2015-05-05
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for flexible routing in a switch, the method comprising: receiving a configuration request transaction layer packet at a switch stack of the switch, the configuration request transaction layer packet generated by a root complex coupled to the switch; forwarding the configuration request transaction layer packet received at the switch stack to a switch manager of the switch, the switch manager comprising firmware; running the firmware of the switch manager to interpret the configuration request transaction layer packet to determine a desired behavior of the switch stack; implementing the desired behavior of the switch stack by updating at least one table of the switch stack based upon the determined desired behavior of the switch stack, the at least one table of the switch stack selected from the group consisting of a routing table, an ingress transaction layer packet editing table and an egress transaction layer packet editing table; determining that a change to the desired behavior of the switch stack is required; updating the firmware of the switch manager to reflect the change to the desired behavior of the switch stack; running the updated firmware of the switch manager to interpret the configuration request transaction layer packet to determine a different desired behavior of the switch stack; and implementing the different desired behavior of the switch stack by updating at least one table of the switch stack based upon the different desired behavior of the switch stack, the at least one table of the switch stack selected from the group consisting of a routing table, an ingress transaction layer packet editing table and an egress transaction layer packet editing table.