Patent ID: 8165119
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of enabling network communication comprising: detecting a first plurality of physical ports within a network switch; accessing a memory, of the network switch, configured to store a first forwarding database; detecting the first forwarding database within the memory, wherein the first forwarding database includes aggregate zone information; detecting a first aggregate zone entry within the first forwarding database, wherein the first aggregate zone entry is configured to enable use of a first aggregate zone; detecting a second plurality of physical ports within the first plurality of physical ports to be used within the first aggregate zone; enabling use of the second plurality of physical ports within the first aggregate zone using the aggregate zone information; and dedicating the second plurality of physical ports within the first aggregate zone of the network switch to receive or transmit specific network traffic addressed only to a specified MAC address; detecting a non-aggregate physical port within the first plurality of physical ports of the network switch; and enabling use of the non-aggregate physical port along with the second physical ports of the first aggregate zone, wherein the non-aggregate physical port is used to receive or transmit network traffic addressed to any MAC address.