Patent ID: 7433351

Claim:
A device for switching data packets, comprising: a first port associated with a first domain and operable to receive a plurality of first data packets; a second port associated with a second domain and operable to receive a plurality of second data packets; a service processor card coupled to the first port and to the second port and operable to: initiate forwarding of the first data packets to the first port; and manage the first data packets using a first management subsystem; initiate forwarding of the second data packets to the second port, the second data packets isolated from the first data packets; and manage the second data packets using a second management subsystem; a plurality of first protocol subsystems, each first protocol subsystem coupled to the first management subsystem and operable to process the first data packets according to a communication protocol of a set of communication protocols; and a plurality of second protocol subsystems, each second protocol subsystem coupled to the second management subsystem and operable to process the second data packets according to a communication protocol of the set of communication protocols.