System and method for scaling ipv6 addresses in a network environment

Logic encoded in non-transitory media that includes instructions for execution and when executed by a processor, is operable to perform operations comprising:

• receiving, at an ingress switch in a network environment, a packet from an attached host that is coupled to a destination host, wherein the packet includes an IPv6 address of a destination host;
• comparing the IPv6 address with a plurality of entries in a LPM table, wherein each entry comprises a value string and a corresponding mask string configured to detect a match for a specific combination of a segment prefix and a switch-id in the IPv6 address, wherein the segment prefix comprises a first 48 bits and the switch-id comprises a penultimate 16 bits in the IPv6 address;
• identifying an egress switch from a matching entry in the LPM table;
• and
• forwarding the packet to the egress switch.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a lookup module;
• a forward module;
• a memory element for storing data;
• and
• a processor that executes instructions associated with the data, wherein the lookup module, the forward module, the processor, and the memory element cooperate such that the apparatus is configured for:
• receiving, at the apparatus, a packet from an attached host that is coupled to a destination host, wherein the packet includes an IPv6 address of a destination host;
• comparing the IPv6 address with a plurality of entries in the LPM table, wherein each entry comprises a value string and a corresponding mask string configured to detect a match for a specific combination of a segment prefix and a switch-id in the IPv6 address, wherein the segment prefix comprises a first 48 bits and the switch-id comprises a penultimate 16 bits in the IPv6 address;
• identifying an egress switch from a matching entry in the LPM table;
• and
• forwarding the packet to the egress switch.