Patent ID: 7286528
Filing Date: 2007-10-23
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for transferring data through a network switch, comprising: a plurality of ports; a memory to store a plurality of address databases storing MAC addresses for devices in communication with the network switch, each address database having a different database number; wherein one of the ports receives a frame of the data, the one of the ports associated with one of the address databases, the frame comprising a destination MAC address; and a controller to hash the destination MAC address, thereby producing a hashed MAC address, combine the hashed MAC address and the database number of the address database associated with the port that received the frame, thereby producing a bucket address, the bucket address identifying a plurality of bin addresses, wherein each of the bin addresses identifies a bin in the memory storing a MAC address and a port identifier that identifies one of the ports in the switch, search the bins for a MAC address matching the destination MAC address, and transmit the frame to the port identified by the port identifier stored in the bin storing a MAC address matching the destination MAC address.