LIMITING THE SIZE OF THE MAC ADDRESS TABLE IN A HYBRID NODE

摘要

A method and apparatus to limit the number of MAC addresses stored in the MAC address table of a hybrid bridging node operating two bridging protocols is described. The operation of the two bridging protocols in the hybrid node allows for an incremental transition of a provider bridging network from operating a legacy bridging protocol that shares MAC addresses to a bridging network that operates VPLS and/or PBB bridging protocols. The hybrid bridging node selectively broadcasts unicast packets with unknown MAC addresses from the nodes operating VTLS and/or PBB to nodes operating a legacy bridging protocol.