Patent ID: 7020139

Claim:
A method of handling data packets in a series of stacked network switches, said method comprising: placing incoming packets into an input queue of a first stacked network switch; applying the input data packets to an address resolution logic engine; performing a lookup to determine whether certain packet fields are stored in a lookup table; determining whether a result of the lookup provides a trunk group ID for a particular data packet of said input data packets; when the lookup provides a trunk group ID; using the trunk group ID to determine an egress port; determining if the egress port is found on said first stacked network switch; setting a stacked tag on said particular data packet if the egress port is not found on the first stacked network switch; determining whether the particular data packet is a broadcast data packet; selecting one port of a group of ports defining a trunk group as the egress port; and forwarding said particular data packet to the egress port; and when said lookup does not provide a trunk group ID; discarding, forwarding, or modifying the packet based upon the result of the lookup.