Network interface and method for processing ethernet network frames

A network interface for an ethernet network, the network interface comprising:

• an ingress processor comprising a network frame input configured to be coupled to a plurality of network ports and to parse a plurality of incoming network frames;
• an egress processor comprising a network frame output configured to be coupled to the plurality of network ports;
• a memory coupled to the ingress processor and the egress processor and configured to store a plurality of previously received frame entries in a frame table, each previously received frame entry including a port field configured to indicate which of the plurality of network port transmitted a previously received frame;
• wherein the ingress processor is further configured to:
• compare an incoming frame of the plurality of incoming network frames with the plurality of previously received frame entries;
• in response to determining that the incoming frame is a duplicate of a frame entry:
• replicate the incoming frame to the egress processor for transmission via each of the plurality of network ports not present in the port field of the frame entry;
• and
• discard the incoming frame if all of the plurality of network ports are present in the port field of the frame entry.