Network switch having a hybrid switch architecture

A method of using a network switch having a hybrid switch architecture, the method comprising:

• distributing packets received by an ingress crossbar switch fabric to at least two shared-memory switch fabrics, wherein packets are requested from each of the at least two shared-memory switch fabrics based on an availability of a channel, and wherein the packets may be requested in an order different from an order the packets were received by the ingress crossbar switch fabrics;
• storing the distributed packets from the ingress crossbar switch fabric in a shared buffer memory associated with each shared-memory switch fabric;
• and
• sending a packet buffer number and a switch instance for each packet stored by each shared-memory switch fabric to an ingress port controller, the packet buffer number including information indicating where the packet is stored in the shared buffer memory and the switch instance including information which shared-memory switch fabric stored the packet.

A method of using a network switch having a hybrid switch architecture, the method comprising:

• removing header or control information from packets received by an ingress crossbar switch fabric before distribution;
• distributing received packets to at least two shared-memory switch fabrics;
• storing the distributed packets from the ingress crossbar switch fabric in a shared buffer memory associated with each shared-memory switch fabric;
• requesting packets from the shared-memory switch fabrics by an egress port controller based on an availability of a channel regardless of an order the packets were received by an ingress port controller;
• re-collecting the requested packets by the egress port controller;
• and
• re-ordering the re-collected packets such that packets are to be transmitted to a destination network component in an order the packets were received by the ingress port controller;
• sending a packet buffer number and a switch instance for each packet stored by each shared-memory switch fabric to an ingress port controller, the packet buffer number including information indicating where the packet is stored in the shared buffer memory and the switch instance including information which shared-memory switch fabric stored the packet.

A network switch having a hybrid switch architecture, comprising:

• at least two first switch means, each first switch means for storing and retrieving packets;
• and
• at least two second switch means, each second switch means coupled to one of the first switch means such that each second switch means is coupled to every first switch means, each second switch means for receiving packets from any one of a plurality of ports included in the second switch means and distributing the received packets to any one of the first switch means, and re-collecting packets from any one of the first switch means and transmitting the re-collected packets to any one of the plurality of ports
• wherein each of the first switch means is also configured to send a packet buffer number indicating where a packet is stored in a shared buffer memory, packets are requested from each of the first switch means based on an availability of a channel,
• wherein packets are requested from each of the first switch means based on an availability of a channel, and wherein the packets may be requested in an order different from an order the packets were received by the second switch means.

A network switch having a hybrid switch architecture, comprising:

• means for distributing packets received by an ingress crossbar switch fabric to at least two shared-memory switch fabrics, wherein packets are requested from each of the at least two shared-memory switch fabrics based on an availability of a channel, and wherein the packets may be requested in an order different from an order the packets were received by the ingress crossbar switch fabrics;
• means for storing the distributed packets from the ingress crossbar switch fabric in a shared buffer memory associated with each shared-memory switch fabric;
• and
• means for sending a packet buffer number and a switch instance for each packet stored by each shared-memory switch fabric to an ingress port controller, the packet buffer number including information indicating where the packet is stored in the shared buffer memory and the switch instance including information which shared-memory switch fabric stored the packet.

A network switch having a hybrid switch architecture, comprising:

• means for removing header or control information from packets received by an ingress crossbar switch fabric before distribution;
• means for distributing received packets to at least two shared-memory switch fabrics, each of the at least two shared-memory switch fabrics to store and retrieve packets;
• means for storing the distributed packets from the ingress crossbar switch fabric in a shared buffer memory associated with each shared-memory switch fabric, the ingress crossbar switch fabric coupled to the at least two shared-memory switch fabrics;
• means for transferring forwarding information to an ingress port controller;
• means for requesting packets from the shared-memory switch fabrics by an egress port controller based on an availability of a channel regardless of an order the packets were received by the ingress port controller;
• means for retrieving packets from a network port, to forward packets to the crossbar switch fabric and to receive packets from the crossbar switch fabrics and to forward packets to a destination network component via the at least one network port;
• means for re-collecting the requested packets by the egress port controller;
• and
• means for re-ordering the re-collected packets such that packets are to be transmitted to a destination network component in an order the packets were received by the ingress port controller,
• wherein each shared-memory switch fabric is further to send a packet buffer number indicating where a packet is stored in a shared buffer memory, packets are requested from each of the shared-memory switch fabrics based on an availability of a channel, and wherein the packets may be requested in an order different from an order the packets were received by the crossbar switch fabrics.