Apparatus and method for implementing VLAN bridging and a VPN in a distributed architecture router

摘要

A router for transmitting data frames to and receiving data frames from N peripheral devices, where the router implements a bridging function between a source peripheral device and a destination peripheral device. The router comprises: i) a first physical medium device (PMD) module for receiving an inbound data frame from the source peripheral device; and ii) a second physical medium device (PMD) module for transmitting an outbound data frame to the destination peripheral device. The first PMD module identifies the second PMD module from a destination address in the inbound data frame and tunnels the inbound data frame through the router to the second PMD module.