PSEUDO-INTERFACE BETWEEN CONTROL AND SWITCHING MODULES OF A DATA PACKET SWITCHING AND LOAD BALANCING SYSTEM

摘要

A data packet switching system comprises a plurality of network interfaces (37) each adapted to be coupled to respective external networks (13) for receiving and sending data packets to and from the external networks via a particular communication protocol. The data packet switching system further includes a plurality of symmetrical processors (42, 44), including a first processor providing a control processor (42) and remaining ones of said processors each providing data packet switching processors (44). The control processor is coupled to a correspondence one of the plurality of network interfaces and the data packet switching processors are coupled to each remaining one of the plurality of network interfaces. A switch (11) is coupled to the control processor through the corresponding one of the network interfaces and is coupled to at least one of the switching processors through at least one other one of the network interfaces. The switching processors thereby are capable of routing a received one of the data packets directed to the control processor through the switch to the control processor.