Patent ID: 8798052
Filing Date: 2014-08-05
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A network fabric, comprising: a plurality of interconnected network nodes, each network node having access to a database containing predetermined paths from each network node in the network fabric to each other network node in the network fabric, each network node having a Layer 2 switching fabric and a processor configured to determine, in response to an incoming frame, whether the frame is a fabric protocol data unit (PDU) having a header with path attributes that include an address of a destination network node in the network fabric, and wherein, if the frame is a fabric PDU, the processor is configured to select a first path to the destination network node from a database of predetermined paths, and to direct the switching fabric to forward the fabric PDU to a next hop in accordance with the selected first path, otherwise, if the frame is not a fabric PDU, the processor is configured to select a second path through the network fabric to the destination network node from the database of predetermined paths, to add the header with the path attributes to the frame to produce the fabric PDU, and to direct the switching fabric to forward the fabric PDU to the next hop in accordance with the selected second path.