Patent ID: 6707817
Filing Date: 2004-03-16
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of switching packets in a network switch, said method comprising:receiving a data packet on a source port of a network switch; determining whether the network switch has sufficient memory capacity to process the data packet; if memory capacity is sufficient, reading a selected portion of the packet to determine if the packet is to be sent to a mirrored port; if mirroring is determined, sending the data packet to the mirrored port; determining whether the packet is to be sent to a remote CPU for further handling, and sending the data packet to the remote CPU if appropriate; determining whether the packet is a unicast packet, and if so, placing the packet on an internal communication channel within the network switch for appropriate storing and forwarding; if the packet is not a unicast packet, determining if the packet is a multicast packet; if the packet is determined to be a multicast packet, then performing simultaneous lookups and switching using layer 2 lookup tables and addresses, and layer 3 lookup tables and addresses, thereby providing hybrid multicast handling of the packet.