US 7,079,537 B1Granted

Layer 3 switching logic architecture in an integrated network switch

AssigneeAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc.

InventorsMrudula Kanuri, Chandan Egbert

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Abstract

A network switch, configured for performing layer 2 and layer 3 switching in an Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) network without blocking of incoming data packets, includes a switching module for performing layer 2 and layer 3 (specifically Internet Protocol) switching operations, and a plurality of network switch ports, each configured for connecting the network switch to a corresponding subnetwork. The switching module includes address tables for storing address information (e.g., layer 2 and layer 3 address and switching information). The network switching module is configured for performing prescribed layer 3 switching that enables transfer of data packets between subnetworks, bypassing a router that normally would need to manage Internet protocol switching between subnetworks of the network. Hence, the network switch performs Internet Protocol switching for intranetwork (i.e., inter-subnetwork) traffic, improving efficiency of the router by enabling the router resources to support more subnetworks.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method in an integrated network switch having a switching module, the integrated network switch configured for switching a layer 2 packet, the method comprising:

determining whether the layer 2 packet includes prescribed layer 3 packet information;
selectively performing layer 3 switching based on the determined presence of the prescribed layer 3 packet information, including determining a switching operation based on at least one of a layer 3 source address and a layer 3 destination address, including:
(1) determining a presence of a subnetwork identifier within the prescribed layer 3 packet information,
(2) searching a first table, configured for storing switching entries for respective Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, for a corresponding switching entry storing the layer 3 destination address, and
(3) selectively searching a second table, configured for storing switching entries for respective prescribed subnetwork identifiers, for a corresponding switching entry storing the subnetwork identifier, the selectively searching being performed based on a determined absence of the corresponding switching entry storing the layer 3 destination address;
and
selectively performing layer 2 switching based on the determined absence of the prescribed layer 3 packet information.

4 more elements

An integrated network switch having a switching module comprising:

an evaluation module configured for evaluating a presence of layer 3 packet information within a received layer 2 packet, the evaluation module configured for identifying selected layer 3 switching functions to be perfomed based on the determined presence of prescribed data within the layer 3 packet information;
an address table configured for storing switching entries, each switching entry configured for storing a layer 2 network address, a layer 3 network address, and corresponding switching information;
a subnetwork table configured for storing switching entries for respective prescribed subnetwork identifiers;
an address lookup module configured for searching the switching entries based on at least one of the layer 3 packet information and layer 2 address information in the received layer 2 packet, the address lookup module configured for selectively determining a presence of a subnetwork identifier within the layer 3 packet information, and searching the subnetwork table for a corresponding switching entry storing the subnetwork identifier, based on a determined absence of the corresponding switching entry storing the layer 3 network address in the address table;
and
an output module configured for generating a switching decision based on the searching of the switching entries by the address lookup module and the evaluation of the presence of layer 3 packet information.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/558,293Filed 25 Apr 2000
Granted: 18 Jul 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H04L 49/602
Software-defined switches: multilayer or multiprotocol switching, e.g. IP switching
H04L 49/25
Packet switching elements: routing or path finding in a switch fabric
H04L 49/3009
Peripheral units, e.g. input or output ports: header conversion, routing tables or routing tags
H04L 49/354
Switches specially adapted for specific applications: for supporting virtual local area networks [VLAN]

Family

No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.

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