Patent ID: 8429296
Filing Date: 2013-04-23
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A software application stored in and executing from memory of a multi-processor data router in which a forwarding information base for the router is maintained, comprising: a server module; and one or more client modules, each client module including a plurality of physical communication ports of the data router; each port having an individual address; characterized in that the software sends a request to an external router to join a group, identifying the addresses of a portion less than a total number of the ports included at the client modules, the ports designated to receive packets from the external router and the server module sends to the client module only that portion of the forwarding information base incorporating only those ports that are utilized for the forwarding of the packets prior to receiving any packets from the external router, and the client modules utilize portions of the forwarding information base when processing data packets from the external router through the identified ports, the portions locally stored in a single data table, wherein individual ones of the ports access their assigned forwarding instructions from the local table only when needed.