Method and apparatus for transferring a frame of data from a first network to a second network

A network interface controller, comprising:

• a first media access controller configured to receive, from a first port, a frame of data transferred from one of a plurality of second ports, wherein the frame of data includes a first steering header identifying the one of the plurality of second ports;
• a header decoder configured to direct the frame of data to a memory based on the first steering header;
• and
• a second media access controller configured to
• i) receive the frame of data from the memory based on the first steering header, and
• ii) transmit the frame of data, with a second steering header, from the network interface controller to a destination port based on the second steering header,
• wherein the steering header includes i) a mask configured to identify one or more of the plurality of second ports, and ii) a management bit configured to, when set, indicate that the frame of data is a management frame.

A method of operating a network interface controller, the method comprising:

• using a receive media access controller configured to receive data, received by the network interface controller, to be stored in a memory of the network interface controller,
• receiving, from a first port, a frame of data transferred from one of a plurality of second ports, wherein the frame of data includes a first steering header identifying the one of the plurality of second ports;
• transferring the frame of data to a memory based on the first steering header;
• using a transmit media access controller configured to receive data from the memory to be transmitted from the network interface controller,
• receiving the frame of data from the memory based on the first steering header;
• and
• transmitting the frame of data, with a second steering header, from the network interface controller to a destination port based on the second steering header.

A method of operating a network interface controller, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a first port, a frame of data transferred from one of a plurality of second ports, wherein the frame of data includes a first steering header identifying the one of the plurality of second ports;
• transferring the frame of data to a memory based on the first steering header;
• receiving the frame of data from the memory based on the first steering header;
• and
• transmitting the frame of data, with a second steering header, from the network interface controller to a destination port based on the second steering header,
• wherein the steering header includes i) a mask configured to identify one or more of the plurality of second ports, and ii) a management bit configured to, when set, indicate that the frame of data is a management frame.