Patent ID: 6272136
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A data packet switching system comprising:a plurality of network interfaces each adapted to be coupled to respective external networks for receiving and sending data packets to and from said external networks via a particular communication protocol;a plurality of symmetrical processors including a first processor providing a control processor and remaining ones of said processors each providing data packet switching processors, said control processor being coupled to a corresponding one of said plurality of network interfaces and each of said data packet switching processors being coupled to at least one other one of said plurality of network interfaces; anda switch coupled to said control processor through said corresponding one of said plurality of network interfaces and coupled to at least one of said switching processors through said at least one other one of said plurality of network interfaces, said switching processors routing a received one of said data packets directed to said control processor through said switch to said control processor;wherein said switching processors further include stored instructions to be executed by said switching processors, said stored instructions for:reading routing information from a header portion of said received one of said data packets to identify a virtual address for said control processor,modifying said received one of said data packets by re-writing said routing information to reflect a real address for said control processor, andsending said modified data packet to at least one of said plurality of network interfaces coupled to said switch.