ADDRESS SEARCH APPARATUS AND METHOD IN ETHERNET SWITCH

摘要

PURPOSE: An address search apparatus and a method in an ethernet switch is provided to efficiently execute an address search operation in an ethernet switch. CONSTITUTION: An address search apparatus is composed of 8 local search blocks(20-0-20-7) and a main search block(26). An interface protocol is defined for the exchange of information between the local search blocks(20-0-20-7) and the main search block(26). The local search blocks(20-0-20-7) respectively are provided corresponding to 8 port devices. The main search block(26) is installed between a scheduler(24) and a search memory. Each of the local search blocks(20-0-20-7) analyzes the destination address of an input packet incoming to its own port and finds out a transmission port of an ethernet switch. The main search block analyzes a source address and constructs an address database of the local search blocks. The scheduler(24) executes a function to select one out of a plurality of ports in transceiving data. In the case of executing an address search operation, the scheduler(24) carries out a function to interface control signals between the local search blocks(20-0-20-7) and the main search block(26).