FORWARD OVERRIDES IN A PACKET SWITCH

摘要

A memory is successively searched using the contents of a header included in a data packet in order to select a forwarding entry for the data packet. The searches use a header field for a different protocol layer. A next field stored in a forwarding entry is used to determine if another search is required. The data packet is forwarded according to the forwarding override stored in the selected forwarding entry selected from the final successive search. The received data packet is forwarded to a host processor, through the switch, to both the host processor and through the switch, or the received data packet is not forwarded, dependent on the selected forward override.