Patent ID: 7424015
Filing Date: 2008-09-09
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of managing forwarding tables of network processors based on address learning in a single line card communicating with a main processor and having a plurality of network processors and a multiplexing/demultiplexing module, comprising: the first step of the demultiplexing module of the main processor transmitting N Ethernet data frames having the same source address to ports of the network processors in sequence when the single line card receives the N Ethernet data frames; the second step of each of the network processors, which has received an Ethernet data frame, adding an entry to its address learning table after searching the address learning table, initializing an aging timer, and transmitting the received Ethernet data frame to the main processor; the third step of the main processor, which has received the Ethernet data frame, determining whether an entry corresponding to the Ethernet data frame exists in its forwarding table; and the fourth step of, if the entry corresponding to the Ethernet data frame exists, the main processor checking a learning process count (LRNG_CNT) flag value, if the entry corresponding to the Ethernet data frame exists and the LRNG_CNT flag value is greater than zero, the main processor increasing the LRNG_CNT flag value by one, and if the entry corresponding to the Ethernet data frame does not exist, the main processor adding the entry corresponding to the Ethernet data frame to its forwarding table, increasing the LRNG_CNT flag value by one, and requesting creation of the entry based solely on a source address of the Ethernet data frame in each of the forwarding tables of the network processors via the single line card.