Patent ID: 8254383
Filing Date: 2012-08-28
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for routing packets, comprising: receiving a first packet to route, wherein the first packet comprises a first Internet Protocol (IP) address; obtaining a first route entry using the first IP address, wherein the first route entry comprises; a first prefix, a first route nexthop pointer (RNP) comprising an identifier for a second route entry, and a first route nexthop generation (RNG) corresponding to a previously obtained route generation (RG) for the second route entry, wherein the previously obtained RG for the second route entry was obtained in response to an update of the first RNP; obtaining the second route entry using the first RNP, wherein the second route entry comprises a route dependency list pointer (RDLP) and a current RG for the second route entry, and wherein the RDLP comprises an identifier for the first route entry; determining, by a processor, that the dependence on the second route entry by first route entry is valid by determining that the current RG a route generation (RG) for the second route entry and the first RNG are equal; upon determining that the dependence on the second route entry by first route entry is valid: obtaining a first neighbor cache entry (NCE) from a first NCE pointer (NP) stored in the first route entry, wherein the first NCE comprises address resolution protocol (ARP) information corresponding to the second route entry; and routing the first packet using the ARP information in the first NCE.