EXTENDED PACKET SWITCH AND METHOD FOR REMOTE FORWARDING CONTROL AND REMOTE PORT IDENTIFICATION

摘要

An extended packet switch offers the transparent functionality of a packet switch appliance even when the ports are distant from the core switch. When the intervening access networks provide a plurality of logical connections, the connections are divided into port groups and assigned to individual ports on multiport end stations, with the receiver detecting the connection identifier and thence the originating port. Methods disclosed provide the core station with visibility into the source ports of ingress packets and with routing capability at the remote end stations. Embodiments include an extended packet switch, configurable like an ordinary switch appliance, operating simultaneously over multiple physical links.