Auto-learning of MAC addresses and lexicographic lookup of hardware database

摘要

Ethernet systems and methods for auto-learning of MAC addresses and lexicographic lookup of hardware databases are disclosed. An Ethernet network device generally includes a hardware MAC address database containing MAC address entries and a hardware MAC address learning engine in communication with the hardware MAC address database and configured to receive an unresolved source MAC address to be learned and to record the unresolved source MAC address in the hardware MAC address database in a corresponding MAC address entry. The Ethernet network device may also include a hardware lexicographic lookup engine configured to perform hardware lookups of MAC address entries in the hardware MAC address database and to interface with a management application program interface (API) for management of the Ethernet network device.