Combined router, ATM, WAN and/or LAN switch (CRAWLS) cut through and method of use

A method for efficiently transferring a plurality of data packets from a source node to a destination node, comprising:

• receiving a first data packet from the plurality of data packets from the source node at an intermediate node;
• sending the first data packet to the destination node along a path selected by utilizing the data within the first data packet;
• selecting a cut through type for a data transfer protocol employed for the plurality of data packets;
• sending a redirect packet from the intermediate node to the source node, wherein the redirect packet includes switching information for cut through transmission employing the selected cut through type of subsequent data packets within the plurality of data packets by the intermediate node;
• and
• sending data from a subsequent data packet from the plurality of data packets, as the data is received at the intermediate node, to the destination node.

A method of data transfer cut through failure recovery, comprising:

• receiving and temporarily storing a first data packet from a data transfer from a source node at an intermediate node;
• sending the first data packet to a destination node along a selected path selected by selected based upon routing data within the first data packet;
• sending a redirect packet containing switching information for cut through transmission at the intermediate node from the intermediate node to the source node;
• switching and immediately transmitting each subsequent data packet within the data transfer, as the data packets are received at the intermediate node, along an alternate path within the intermediate node to the destination node;
• and
• in response to a failure of the alternate path, sending data packets from the remaining portion of the data transfer to the destination node along the selected path.

A method of data transfer cut through recovery, comprising:

• receiving and temporarily storing a first data packet from a data transfer from a source node at an intermediate node;
• sending the first data packet to a destination node along a selected path selected by selected based upon routing data within the first data packet;
• sending a redirect packet containing switching information for cut through transmission at the intermediate node from the intermediate node to the source node;
• switching and immediately transmitting each subsequent data packet within the data transfer, as the data packets are received at the intermediate node, along an alternate path within the intermediate node to the destination node;
• and
• in response to an inability to immediately send the data packets within a remaining portion of the data transfer as the data packets are received at the intermediate node to the destination node, sending the data packets from the remaining portion of the data transfer to the destination node when possible.

A apparatus for efficiently transferring a plurality of data packets from a source node to a destination node in a distributed data processing system comprising:

• receiving means for receiving a first data packet from the plurality of data packets from the source node at an intermediate node;
• first sending means for sending the first data packet to the destination node along a path selected by utilizing the data within the first data packet;
• selection means for selecting a cut through type based upon a data transfer protocol being employed for the plurality of data packets;
• redirect means for sending a redirect packet from the intermediate node to the source node, wherein the redirect packet includes switching information for cut through transmission employing the selected cut through type of subsequent data packets within the plurality of data packets by the intermediate node;
• and
• second sending means for sending data from a subsequent data packet from the plurality of data packets, as the data is received at the intermediate node, to the destination node.