Method for Media Access Control address learning and learning rate suppression

摘要

A method, apparatus and computer program product for Media Access Control (MAC) address learning and learning rate suppression are presented. A Forwarding Data Unit (FDU) maintains two cache tables, each of the cache tables used for harvesting MAC addresses. The FDU uses the cache tables in an alternating manner, wherein when one of the cache tables is used for harvesting MAC addresses the other one of the cache tables has its contents bundled into a packet for forwarding to a control plane of the FDU.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method in which a Forwarding Data Unit (FDU) performs operations comprising:
maintaining, by said FDU, two cache tables, each of said cache tables used for harvesting Media Access Control (MAC) addresses; using said cache tables in an alternating manner, wherein when one of said cache tables is used for harvesting MAC addresses the other one of said cache tables has its contents bundled into a packet for forwarding to a control plane of said FDU, wherein each cache table is used for storing one or more cache table entries, each cache table entry including a valid bit, a key including a source MAC address, and associated data; and prior to switching from harvesting MAC addresses into one of said cache tables to harvesting MAC addresses into the other one of said cache tables, clearing the valid bit for each entry in said other one of said cache tables.