Patent ID: 8355317

Claim:
A packet switch operating method comprising: using primary control circuitry of the packet switch, receiving a request to perform a transaction wherein the primary control circuitry performing the transaction comprises determining a plurality of actions associated with the transaction and a plurality of first data objects associated with the plurality of actions, the plurality of first data objects being stored in a memory of the primary control circuitry and modifying the plurality of first data objects; in response to the receiving, the primary control circuitry, forwarding the request to backup control circuitry of the packet switch; subsequent to the forwarding, the primary control circuitry performing the transaction by determining the plurality of actions, determining the first data objects, and modifying the first data objects; using the primary control circuitry, informing the backup control circuitry that the primary control circuitry has performed the transaction; and in response to the informing, the backup control circuitry performing the transaction by modifying a plurality of second data objects stored in a memory of the backup control circuitry, the first data objects corresponding to the second data objects; wherein the primary control circuitry and the backup control circuitry are synchronized on a transaction basis; wherein the determining of the plurality of actions associated with the transaction further comprises determining that a plurality of third data objects stored in a memory of forwarding circuitry of the packet switch are also associated with the transaction; and using the primary control circuitry, requesting that the forwarding circuitry modify the plurality of third data objects; in response to the requesting, the forwarding circuitry modifying the plurality of third data objects; in response to the requesting, the primary control circuitry receiving acknowledgement of the modifications to the plurality of third data objects, and wherein the primary control circuitry is incapable of directly modifying the plurality of third data objects independent of the forwarding circuitry.