초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for providing trunking support in a network device is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, a network device includes at least one port that is configured to be included in a trunk. The network device also includes a memory for storing a forwarding databa

A method and apparatus for providing trunking support in a network device is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, a network device includes at least one port that is configured to be included in a trunk. The network device also includes a memory for storing a forwarding database. The forwarding database includes entries containing therein forwarding information for a subset of network addresses. The network device further includes a learning circuit. The learning circuit is coupled to the trunked port and the memory. The learning circuit is configured to modify the forwarding database to reflect an association between the trunked port and a first address contained within a packet received by the trunked port. If the trunk is of a first type, the learning circuit updates the forwarding database based upon a trunk designator corresponding to the trunk; otherwise, the learning circuit updates the forwarding database based upon a port designator corresponding to the trunked port. According to another aspect of the present invention, a packet is received by a network device on one of its input ports. The packet contains therein header information including a destination address. A forwarding database is searched for the destination address. If the destination address is not found in the forwarding database and the output trunk is coupled to a network device of a first type, then load balancing is performed to assure the packet is forwarded to only one port of the output trunk. However, if the output trunk is coupled to a network device of a second type, then the packet is forwarded to all ports of the output trunk.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A network device comprising:a plurality of ports including a first port configured to receive a packet, at least the first port configured to be associated with at wherein the trunk is a logical channel between the network device and another network device that includes t

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A network device comprising:a plurality of ports including a first port configured to receive a packet, at least the first port configured to be associated with at wherein the trunk is a logical channel between the network device and another network device that includes two or more physical network links;a memory for storing a forwarding database, the forwarding database including a plurality of entries containing therein forwarding information for a subset of addresses; anda learning circuit coupled to the first port and the memory configured to modify the forwarding database to reflect an association between the first port and a first address contained within the packet, the learning circuit updating the forwarding database based upon a trunk designator corresponding to the trunk if the trunk is of a first type, the learning circuit updating the forwarding database based upon a port designator corresponding to the first port if the trunk is of a second type. wherein ports associated with trunks of the first type each have the same media access control (MAC) address, and ports associated with trunks of the second type each have a different MAC address.