Method and apparatus for the secure switching of a packet within a communications network

Switching apparatus for switching a packet within a communications network, the switching apparatus comprising:

• a switching core servicing a plurality of ports;
• and
• switching logic, coupled to the switching core, to determine whether a packet received at any one of the plurality of ports serviced by the switching core was received at a first port and:
• if so, to route the packet according to a default switching scheme within the switch;
• and
• if not, to route the packet to the port service by the switch.

Switching apparatus for switching a packet within a communications network, the switching apparatus comprising:

• switch core means, servicing a plurality of ports, one of the plurality of ports comprising an upstream port, for switching packets between the plurality of ports;
• and
• determination means, coupled to the switching core, for determining whether a packet received at any one of the plurality of ports of the switching core was received at the upstream port and:
• if so, for routing the packet according to a default switching scheme within the switch;
• and
• if not, for routing the packet to the upstream port within the switch.

A method of switching a packet through a multi-port switch having a plurality of ports, the method including the steps of:

• determining whether a packet is received at a first port of the multi-port switch;
• if so, routing the packet according to a default switching scheme within the switch;
• and
• if not, then overriding the default switching scheme to route the packet to the first port for propagation over a communications network.

A machine-readable medium storing a sequence of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform the steps of:

• determining whether a packet is received at a first port of a switch servicing a plurality of ports;
• if so, then switching the packet according to a default switching scheme;
• and
• if not, then overriding the default switching scheme to route the packet to the first port for propagation over a communications network.