Patent ID: 8340090
Filing Date: 2012-12-25
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A packet switching device comprising: a switching mechanism; a first line card associated with a first forwarding context configured to identify forwarding information for packets based on a first forwarding information base stored on the first line card, the first line card including a first ingress port and a first egress port; and a second line card associated with a second forwarding context configured to identify forwarding information for packets based on a second forwarding information base stored on the second line card, the second line card including within the second forwarding context a U-turn port comprising a second ingress port and a second egress port; wherein the packet switching device is configured to automatically forward all packets, received on the second egress port from the switching mechanism and not dropped at the second egress port, to the second ingress port from the second egress port; wherein the switching mechanism is configured to communicate packets among a plurality of line cards of the packet switching device, the plurality of line cards including the first line card and the second line card; and wherein the first line card is configured to forward packets, identified to be sent to the second forwarding context or the second line card based on the first forwarding information base, from the first ingress port over the switching mechanism to the second egress port of the U-turn port via the switching mechanism without traversing an ingress port of the second line card.