摘要 |
A network switch ( 10 ) for a packet-based data communication network, comprises a plurality of ports for the reception and transmission of data and means for establishing a database for controlling the passage of data between the ports. The database comprises a data table ( 17 ) for holding data entries each comprising a media access control address and an identification of a port, and a pointer table ( 16 ) of which the entries each comprise a network address and an associated pointer to an entry in the said data table. The pointers are accessed by hashing network addresses in received packets. |