Methods and devices for generating and forwarding translated MAC addresses

摘要

The number of MAC addresses and corresponding tables that need to be stored to forward messages in a network is substantially reduced. Conventional MAC addresses are converted to translated (sometimes called “virtual”) MAC addresses using a new hierarchical format which redefines the conventional 48-bit, MAC label. Though the MAC label is redefined the packet size remains the same. For example, the number of MAC address tables stored by a HUB node may be reduced from 60,000 to 8 while the number stored at a POP node may be reduced from 120,000 to 8 in a “flat” Ethernet design.