Patent ID: 7480311
Filing Date: 2009-01-20
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of providing communications over a network system utilizing a first protocol and a second protocol, the method comprising the steps of: receiving information at a port controller in a first protocol from a first node machine; communicating the information from the port controller in the first protocol to a switch fabric; communicating the information from the switch fabric to a switch device driver within an operating system; communicating the information from the switch device driver to a Forwarding Database Distribution Library (FDDL); and communicating the information from the FDDL to a first protocol client; wherein the FDDL allows each protocol application to distribute its database and functionality to port controllers within the switch fabric, wherein the distribution facilitates hardware forwarding at the port controllers; wherein said each protocol application defines a specific set of FDDL messages that are exchanged between the protocol application and the switch fabric, wherein the messages are passed to a software running at each of the port controllers.