VLAN protocol

Claim 2

A local virtual local area network (VLAN) table for a network switch, the table comprising, for each VLAN identifier: a local port membership on said network switch per VLAN identifier to the exclusion of remote port membership; and a switch membership per VLAN identifier.

Claim 3

A local VLAN table according to claim 1 and also comprising, per VLAN identifier, information regarding the local ports of said switch.

Claim 6

A generally full-wire throughput, switching Ethernet controller for use within an Ethernet network of other switching Ethernet controllers connected together by a bus, the controller comprising: a plurality of ports including at least one bus port associated with ports connected to other switching Ethernet controllers; a hash table for storing MAC addresses and VLAN ids of ports within said Ethernet network; a hash table address control for hashing the MAC address and VLAN id of a packet to initial hash table location values, for changing the hash table location values by a fixed jump amount if the address and VLAN id values stored in said initial hash table location do not match the received address and VLAN id, and for providing at least an output port number of the port associated with the received address and VLAN id; a storage buffer including a multiplicity of contiguous buffers in which to temporarily store said packet.

Claim 7

A generally full-wire throughput, switching Ethernet controller for use within an Ethernet network of other switching Ethernet controllers connected together by a bus, the controller comprising: a plurality of ports including at least one bus port associated with ports connected to other switching Ethernet controllers; a hash table for storing MAC addresses and VLAN ids of ports within said Ethernet network; a hash table address control for hashing the MAC address and VLAN id of a packet to initial hash table location values, for changing the hash table location values by a fixed jump amount if the address and VLAN id values stored in said initial hash table location do not match the received address and VLAN id, and for providing at least an output port number of the port associated with the received address and VLAN id; a storage buffer including a multiplicity of contiguous buffers in which to temporarily store said packet.

Claim 8

A network switch arranged to communicate with a plurality of network devices including at least a second network switch comprising: a plurality of local ports arranged to communicate with the plurality of network devices, wherein the at least second network switch comprises a plurality of remote ports; a local virtual local area network (VLAN) memory to store an identification of at least a corresponding one of said plurality of local ports to the exclusion of identification of remote ports and an identification of at least a respective VLAN, and an identification of at least a respective VLAN identification, and an identification of the at least second network switch.

Claim 9

A network switch arranged to communicate with a plurality of network devices including at least a second network switch comprising: a plurality of local ports arranged to communicate with the plurality of network devices, wherein the at least second network switch comprises a plurality of remote ports; a local virtual local area network (VLAN) memory to store an identification of at least a corresponding one of said plurality of local ports to the exclusion of identification of remote ports and an identification of at least a respective VLAN, and an identification of at least a respective VLAN identification, and an identification of the at least second network switch.

Claim 10

A network switch arranged to communicate with a plurality of network devices including at least a second network switch comprising: a plurality of local ports means arranged for communicating with the plurality of network devices, wherein the at least second network switch comprises a plurality of remote ports; a local virtual local area network (VLAN) memory means for storing an identification of at least a corresponding one of said plurality of local ports means to the exclusion of identification of remote port means for communicating with the plurality of network devices and an identification of at least a respective VLAN, and an identification of at least a respective VLAN identification and an identification of the at least second network switch.

Claim 11

A network switch arranged to communicate with a plurality of network devices including at least a second network switch comprising: a plurality of local ports means arranged for communicating with the plurality of network devices, wherein the at least second network switch comprises a plurality of remote ports; a local virtual local area network (VLAN) memory means for storing an identification of at least a corresponding one of said plurality of local ports means to the exclusion of identification of remote port means for communicating with the plurality of network devices and an identification of at least a respective VLAN, and an identification of at least a respective VLAN identification and an identification of the at least second network switch.

Claim 14

A local virtual local area network (VLAN) data structure in a network switch arranged to communicate with a plurality of network devices including at least a second network switch, said data structure comprising: an identification of at least a corresponding one of a plurality of local ports of the network switch to the exclusion of identification of remote ports and an identification of at least a respective VLAN, and an identification of at least a respective VLAN identification and an identification of the at least second network switch.

Claim 15

A local virtual local area network (VLAN) data structure in a network switch arranged to communicate with a plurality of network devices including at least a second network switch, said data structure comprising: an identification of at least a corresponding one of a plurality of local ports of the network switch to the exclusion of identification of remote ports and an identification of at least a respective VLAN, and an identification of at least a respective VLAN identification and an identification of the at least second network switch.

Claim 16

A network switch for a network that includes a plurality of remote switches each having a respective switch identification (ID), comprising: a plurality of local ports each having a local port identification (ID); and memory that is accessed by said network switch to forward packets and that stores: a first relationship between a plurality of virtual local area network (VLAN) IDs and corresponding local port IDs to the exclusion of remote port IDs; and a second relationship between said plurality of VLAN IDs and said switch IDs corresponding to said plurality of VLAN IDs.

Claim 17

A network switch for a network that includes a plurality of remote switches each having a respective switch identification (ID), comprising: a plurality of local ports each having a local port identification (ID); and memory that is accessed by said network switch to forward packets and that stores: a first relationship between a plurality of virtual local area network (VLAN) IDs and corresponding local port IDs to the exclusion of remote port IDs; and a second relationship between said plurality of VLAN IDs and said switch IDs corresponding to said plurality of VLAN IDs.

Claim 18

The network switch of claim 9 wherein said memory also stores destination addresses corresponding to at least one of said VLAN IDs, said local port IDs and said switch IDs.

Claim 19

The network switch of claim 10 wherein when said network switch receives said packet including a VLAN ID and a destination address that is not found in said table, said network switch forwards said packet to said local ports of said network switch with said VLAN ID and to all of said switches having said switch IDs that correspond to said VLAN ID identified in said packet.

Claim 20

A network switch for a network that includes a plurality of remote switches each having switch identifications (IDs), comprising: a plurality of local port means for receiving packets, wherein each of said local port means has a local port means identification (ID); and storing means, that is accessed by said network switch to forward packets, for storing: a first relationship between a plurality of virtual local area network (VLAN) IDs and local port means IDs to the exclusion of identification of remote port means for receiving packets; and a second relationship between said plurality of VLAN IDs and said switch IDs corresponding to respective ones of said plurality of VLAN IDs.

Claim 21

A network switch for a network that includes a plurality of remote switches each having switch identifications (IDs), comprising: a plurality of local port means for receiving packets, wherein each of said local port means has a local port means identification (ID); and storing means, that is accessed by said network switch to forward packets, for storing: a first relationship between a plurality of virtual local area network (VLAN) IDs and local port means IDs to the exclusion of identification of remote port means for receiving packets; and a second relationship between said plurality of VLAN IDs and said switch IDs corresponding to respective ones of said plurality of VLAN IDs.

Claim 22

The network switch of claim 12 wherein said storing means also stores destination addresses corresponding to at least one of said VLAN IDs, said local port means IDs and said switch IDs.

Claim 23

The network switch of claim 13 wherein when said network switch receives a packet including a VLAN ID and a destination address that is not found in said storing means, said network switch forwards said packet to said local port means of said network switch with said VLAN ID and to all of said switches having said switch IDs that correspond to said VLAN ID identified in said packet.

Claim 26

The method of claim 15 further comprising storing destination addresses corresponding to at least one of said VLAN IDs, said local port IDs and said switch IDs.

Claim 27

The network switch of claim 16 further comprising: receiving a packet at said network switch including a VLAN ID and a destination address that is not found in said table; forwarding said packet to said local ports of said network switch with said VLAN ID; and forwarding said packet to remote switches having said switch IDs that correspond to said VLAN ID identified in said packet.