WO2000062454A1 - Data link layer switch with multicast capability - Google Patents

Data link layer switch with multicast capability Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000062454A1
WO2000062454A1 PCT/US2000/005390 US0005390W WO0062454A1 WO 2000062454 A1 WO2000062454 A1 WO 2000062454A1 US 0005390 W US0005390 W US 0005390W WO 0062454 A1 WO0062454 A1 WO 0062454A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
multicast
address
packet
port interface
matcher
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2000/005390
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Shuang Deng
Original Assignee
Verizon Laboratories Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Verizon Laboratories Inc. filed Critical Verizon Laboratories Inc.
Priority to AU37155/00A priority Critical patent/AU3715500A/en
Publication of WO2000062454A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000062454A1/en

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00Data switching networks
    • H04L12/02Details
    • H04L12/16Arrangements for providing special services to substations
    • H04L12/18Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L61/00Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L49/00Packet switching elements
    • H04L49/20Support for services
    • H04L49/201Multicast operation; Broadcast operation
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L49/00Packet switching elements
    • H04L49/35Switches specially adapted for specific applications
    • H04L49/351Switches specially adapted for specific applications for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L2101/00Indexing scheme associated with group H04L61/00
    • H04L2101/60Types of network addresses
    • H04L2101/618Details of network addresses
    • H04L2101/622Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L49/00Packet switching elements
    • H04L49/30Peripheral units, e.g. input or output ports
    • H04L49/3009Header conversion, routing tables or routing tags

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to network switches and more particularly to a data link layer switch that supports Internet Protocol (IP) multicasting.
  • IP Internet Protocol
  • Multicast communication includes the transmission of identical data packets to selected, multiple destinations.
  • broadcast communication includes the indiscriminate transmission of data packets to all destinations
  • unicast communication includes the transmission of data packets to a single destination.
  • Every participant in a multicast receives information transmitted by any other participant in the multicast. Users connected to the network who are not participants in a particular multicast do not receive the information transmitted by the participants of the multicast. In this way, the multicast communication uses only the network components (e.g., switches and trunks) actually needed for the multicast transmission.
  • network components e.g., switches and trunks
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an Ethernet switch 100.
  • the Ethernet switch 100 includes a switching mechanism 1 10 connected to several port interface controllers 120.
  • the switching mechanism 1 10 may include any conventional shared medium, shared memory, or space-division device.
  • the port interface controller 120 transports packets between a port and the switching mechanism 110.
  • Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional port interface controller 120.
  • the port interface controller 120 includes an Ethernet interface 210, a Media Access Control (MAC) address learner 220, a MAC address table 230, a MAC address matcher 240, and a controller 250.
  • MAC Media Access Control
  • the Ethernet interface 210 receives an inbound packet transmitted from a host attached to the switch 100 over an Ethernet channel, and passes the packet to the MAC address learner 220.
  • the MAC address learner 220 reads the Ethernet address of the originating host and stores the address in the MAC address table 230, if the address is not already stored there.
  • the controller 250 maintains addresses of attached hosts in the MAC address table 230. If a host has not transmitted for a certain period of time, the controller 250 removes the MAC address of the host from the MAC address table 230.
  • the MAC address learner 220 sends the received packet to the controller 250, which, in turn, forwards the packet to the switching mechanism 1 10 (Fig. 1).
  • the switching mechanism 110 identifies the appropriate port interface controller 120 for the packet and sends it to this controller.
  • the controller 250 of the identified port interface controller 120 receives the packet and sends it to the MAC address matcher 240.
  • the MAC address matcher 240 compares the packet's destination address to the MAC addresses stored in the MAC address table 230. If the outbound packet's destination address is of a broadcast or multicast type, or is unicast and matches an entry in the MAC address table 230, the MAC address matcher 240 forwards the packet to its port for transmission to the attached host(s).
  • IP multicasting first found its application in audio and video conferencing. Each IP multicast group has a unique class-D IP address ranging from 224.0.0.1 to 239.255.255.255. Multicast data is sent to a group based on this unique address. For an IP multicast packet transmitted on the Ethernet, the multicast Ethernet address includes the least significant 23 bits of the IP address.
  • LP Internet Protocol
  • a host sends a "request to join" message to the nearest multicast-capable router to request receiving from the multicast group.
  • the router propagates the request up to the multicast source if the data path is not already in place.
  • the router maps the class-D IP multicast group address into an Ethernet multicast address, and sends the resultant Ethernet group to the Ethernet port from which the original request was received.
  • the current Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) does not specify an explicit message for withdrawing membership from the multicast group.
  • a host's membership expires when the router does not receive a periodic membership report from the host.
  • Ethernet switches route IP packets and, therefore, support IP multicasting.
  • Ethernet switch in their names, they are, in fact, not Ethernet switches, but routers because the actual switching is carried out at the IP or the network layer, not at the Ethernet or data link layer. Consequently, their performance and cost are comparable with routers and much higher than that of Ethernet switches due to the overhead of IP decoding and routing.
  • No multicast mechanism currently exists at the data link layer, corresponding to the IP layer.
  • a conventional Ethernet switch sends multicast packets to all ports regardless of whether the hosts attached to these ports need them. It is the responsibility of the receiving host to determine whether a packet belongs to the groups that have been requested at the IP layer. The receiving host makes this determination through the use of an address filter either implemented in hardware on a Local Area Network (LAN) controller or in communication control software.
  • LAN Local Area Network
  • a conventional Ethernet switch includes one network port connecting a multicast router at 100 Mb/s and 24 local ports each connecting to a personal computer (PC) at 10 Mb/s.
  • PC personal computer
  • a system consistent with the present invention includes a switching mechanism coupled to a plurality of port interface controllers.
  • Each of the port interface controllers comprises a multicast address table, a multicast matcher, and a timer.
  • the multicast address table stores multicast addresses for hosts attached to the port interface controller.
  • the multicast matcher matches an incoming packet to a target pattern, generates a multicast address from the incoming packet if the incoming packet matches the target pattern, and stores the generated multicast address in the multicast address table.
  • the timer determines an amount of time that the generated multicast address remains in the multicast address table.
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an Ethernet switch
  • Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a port interface controller in the switch of Fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 3 is an Ethernet switch consistent with the present invention
  • Fig. 4 is a flowchart of multicast processing of an incoming packet performed by the port interface controller 300 of Fig. 3;
  • Fig. 5 is a flowchart of multicast processing of an outgoing packet performed by the port interface controller 300 of Fig. 3.
  • the Ethernet switch includes a switching mechanism 110 coupled to several port interface controllers 120.
  • the elements comprising the port interface controllers 120 differ, however, from those elements shown in Fig. 2.
  • Fig. 3 is a diagram of a port interface controller 300 consistent with the present invention.
  • the port interface controller 300 includes some of the same elements included in the conventional port interface controller 120 shown in Fig. 2. These elements contain the same reference numerals.
  • the port interface controller 300 includes an Ethernet interface 210, a MAC address learner 220, a MAC address table 230, a controller 250, a multicast request matcher 310, a multicast Ethernet address table 320, a timer 330, and an address matcher 340.
  • the multicast request matcher 310 includes a standard bit-pattern matcher of fixed length whose target pattern is updatable through a software download to support a variety of protocols and different versions.
  • the target pattern operates on the 13th, 25th, and 35th bytes of the Ethernet packet (i.e., the protocol-type field of the Ethernet and IP headers, and the version and type fields of the IGMP header).
  • the matcher 310 finds a match, for example, if the protocol fields are IP and IGMP, and the byte for version and type is 0x21.
  • the multicast address table 320 contains a list of Ethernet multicast addresses of hosts attached to the Ethernet channel.
  • the table is similar in construction and format to the MAC address table 230.
  • the timer 330 is a counting mechanism implemented in hardware, using a conventional counter, or software, using a conventional counting algorithm.
  • the address matcher 340 includes a mechanism for comparing a destination address to the addresses stored in the MAC address table 230 and the multicast address table 320.
  • Fig. 4 is a flowchart of multicast processing of an incoming packet performed by the port interface controller 300 of Fig. 3.
  • the Ethernet interface 210 receives an incoming packet from a host attached to an Ethernet channel [step 410].
  • the interface 210 sends the packet to the MAC address learner 220 and the multicast request matcher 310 [step 420].
  • the MAC address learner 220 reads the Ethernet address of the originating host and stores the address in the MAC address table 230, if the address is not already stored there [step 430].
  • the controller 250 maintains addresses of attached hosts in the MAC address table 230. If a host has not transmitted for a certain period of time, the controller 250 removes the MAC address of the host from the MAC address table 230.
  • the multicast request matcher 310 determines whether the packet matches a target pattern [step 440]. For example, the matcher 310 may compare the packet to a target pattern that operates on the 13th, 25th, and 35th bytes of the packet. If the packet matches the target pattern [step 450], the matcher 310 performs no decoding, but simply extracts the 37th through 39th bytes of the packet and sets the highest bit to zero. The matcher 310 then appends these bytes to an Ethernet multicast address header, such as the Ethernet multicast header 0x01005e000, and stores the newly formed Ethernet multicast address in the multicast address table 320 [step 460].
  • an Ethernet multicast address header such as the Ethernet multicast header 0x01005e000
  • Ethernet multicast address is derived according to an IP to Ethernet address mapping method defined in IETF RFC-1112.
  • the multicast matcher 310 stores the multicast address in the multicast address table 320 only if the packet is a request to join a multicast group. If the packet is, instead, a request to leave a multicast group, the multicast matcher 310 removes the multicast address from the multicast address table 320.
  • the matcher 310 starts or restarts the timer 330.
  • the timer 310 is used to determine the length of time that an address remains in the multicast address table 320. An address is removed from the table upon the expiration of the timer. If the packet does not match the target pattern [step 450] or does match and the multicast address has already been stored in the multicast address table 320 [step 460], the multicast address matcher 310 sends the packet to the controller 250 [step 470].
  • the controller 250 forwards the packet to the switching mechanism [step 480], ending the processing of the incoming packet by the port interface controller 300.
  • Fig. 5 is a flowchart of multicast processing of an outgoing packet performed by the port interface controller 300 of Fig. 3.
  • the controller 250 receives an outgoing packet from the switching mechanism [step 510].
  • the controller 250 forwards the packet to the address matcher 340 [step 520].
  • the address matcher 340 determines whether the packet is of a unicast, multicast, or broadcast type [step 530]. If the packet is not a broadcast packet [step 540], the address matcher 340 compares the destination address to the addresses stored in the MAC address table 230 and the multicast address table 320 [step 550]. If the destination does not match an address in either of the tables [step 560], the address matcher 340 discards the packet [step 570].
  • the address matcher 340 transmits the packet on the Ethernet channel via the Ethernet interface 210 [step 580]. The transmission ends the processing of the outgoing packet by the port interface controller 300.
  • the systems and methods consistent with the present invention support multicasting in a data link layer switch by sending packets to only those ports having an attached host that has joined the multicast group

Abstract

A data link layer switch includes a switching mechanism coupled to a plurality of port interface controllers (300). Each of the port interface controllers (300) comprises a multicast address table (320), a multicast matcher (310), and a timer (330). The multicast address table (320) stores multicast addresses for hosts attached to the port interface controller (300). The multicast matcher (310) matches an incoming packet to a target pattern, generates a multicast address from the incoming packet if the incoming packet matches the target pattern, and stores the generated multicast address in the multicast address table. The timer (330) determines an amount of time that the generated multicast address remains in the multicast address table.

Description

DATA LINK LAYER SWITCH WITH MULTICAST CAPABILITY
Technical Field The present invention relates generally to network switches and more particularly to a data link layer switch that supports Internet Protocol (IP) multicasting.
Background Art
Multicast communication includes the transmission of identical data packets to selected, multiple destinations. In contrast, broadcast communication includes the indiscriminate transmission of data packets to all destinations, and unicast communication includes the transmission of data packets to a single destination.
Every participant in a multicast receives information transmitted by any other participant in the multicast. Users connected to the network who are not participants in a particular multicast do not receive the information transmitted by the participants of the multicast. In this way, the multicast communication uses only the network components (e.g., switches and trunks) actually needed for the multicast transmission.
With conventional techniques, a switch transmits multicast packets on all of its ports. Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an Ethernet switch 100. The Ethernet switch 100 includes a switching mechanism 1 10 connected to several port interface controllers 120. The switching mechanism 1 10 may include any conventional shared medium, shared memory, or space-division device.
The port interface controller 120 transports packets between a port and the switching mechanism 110. Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional port interface controller 120. The port interface controller 120 includes an Ethernet interface 210, a Media Access Control (MAC) address learner 220, a MAC address table 230, a MAC address matcher 240, and a controller 250.
The Ethernet interface 210 receives an inbound packet transmitted from a host attached to the switch 100 over an Ethernet channel, and passes the packet to the MAC address learner 220. The MAC address learner 220 reads the Ethernet address of the originating host and stores the address in the MAC address table 230, if the address is not already stored there. The controller 250 maintains addresses of attached hosts in the MAC address table 230. If a host has not transmitted for a certain period of time, the controller 250 removes the MAC address of the host from the MAC address table 230.
The MAC address learner 220 sends the received packet to the controller 250, which, in turn, forwards the packet to the switching mechanism 1 10 (Fig. 1). The switching mechanism 110 identifies the appropriate port interface controller 120 for the packet and sends it to this controller. The controller 250 of the identified port interface controller 120 receives the packet and sends it to the MAC address matcher 240. The MAC address matcher 240 compares the packet's destination address to the MAC addresses stored in the MAC address table 230. If the outbound packet's destination address is of a broadcast or multicast type, or is unicast and matches an entry in the MAC address table 230, the MAC address matcher 240 forwards the packet to its port for transmission to the attached host(s).
Conventional Ethernet switches do not support Internet Protocol (LP) multicasting. IP multicasting first found its application in audio and video conferencing. Each IP multicast group has a unique class-D IP address ranging from 224.0.0.1 to 239.255.255.255. Multicast data is sent to a group based on this unique address. For an IP multicast packet transmitted on the Ethernet, the multicast Ethernet address includes the least significant 23 bits of the IP address.
To join a particular IP multicast group, a host sends a "request to join" message to the nearest multicast-capable router to request receiving from the multicast group. The router propagates the request up to the multicast source if the data path is not already in place. Upon receiving an IP packet for this group, the router maps the class-D IP multicast group address into an Ethernet multicast address, and sends the resultant Ethernet group to the Ethernet port from which the original request was received. The current Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) does not specify an explicit message for withdrawing membership from the multicast group. A host's membership expires when the router does not receive a periodic membership report from the host.
Some conventional Ethernet switches route IP packets and, therefore, support IP multicasting. However, despite the words "Ethernet switch" in their names, they are, in fact, not Ethernet switches, but routers because the actual switching is carried out at the IP or the network layer, not at the Ethernet or data link layer. Consequently, their performance and cost are comparable with routers and much higher than that of Ethernet switches due to the overhead of IP decoding and routing. No multicast mechanism currently exists at the data link layer, corresponding to the IP layer. As a result, a conventional Ethernet switch sends multicast packets to all ports regardless of whether the hosts attached to these ports need them. It is the responsibility of the receiving host to determine whether a packet belongs to the groups that have been requested at the IP layer. The receiving host makes this determination through the use of an address filter either implemented in hardware on a Local Area Network (LAN) controller or in communication control software.
Thus, the current technologies for switching multicast packets at the data link layer are inefficient and will render the network inoperable when several hosts receive different multicast streams concurrently. To illustrate this problem, suppose that a conventional Ethernet switch includes one network port connecting a multicast router at 100 Mb/s and 24 local ports each connecting to a personal computer (PC) at 10 Mb/s. Assume that each of the PCs is tuned to a different video channel via IP multicasting, and each video stream is coded at 1.5 Mb/s. Since the Ethernet switch sends each multicast packet to all ports, the switch incurs a load of 24 x 1.5 = 36 Mb/s at each local port, far exceeding the PCs' 10 Mb/s capacity. As a result, the network becomes bogged down by congestion.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the deficiencies of the conventional data link layer switches.
Disclosure of Invention
Systems and methods consistent with the principles of the present invention address this need by providing true multicasting at an Ethernet switch by sending packets to only those ports having attached hosts that have previously joined the multicast group. In this way, the need for expensive IP decoding and routing is eliminated.
In accordance with the purpose of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, a system consistent with the present invention includes a switching mechanism coupled to a plurality of port interface controllers. Each of the port interface controllers comprises a multicast address table, a multicast matcher, and a timer. The multicast address table stores multicast addresses for hosts attached to the port interface controller. The multicast matcher matches an incoming packet to a target pattern, generates a multicast address from the incoming packet if the incoming packet matches the target pattern, and stores the generated multicast address in the multicast address table. The timer determines an amount of time that the generated multicast address remains in the multicast address table.
Brief Description of Drawings In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an Ethernet switch;
Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a port interface controller in the switch of Fig. 1 ;
Fig. 3 is an Ethernet switch consistent with the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a flowchart of multicast processing of an incoming packet performed by the port interface controller 300 of Fig. 3; and
Fig. 5 is a flowchart of multicast processing of an outgoing packet performed by the port interface controller 300 of Fig. 3.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. Also, the following detailed description does not limit the invention. Instead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims. Systems and methods consistent with the present invention support true multicasting in a data link layer switch, such as an Ethernet switch, by transmitting packets on only those ports with hosts that have previously joined the multicast group. This Ethernet switch multicasting reduces network traffic load and allows the Ethernet switch to be used for a large number of multicast streams. In particular, this switch can be used to provide near video-on-demand and broadcast video services. Referring to Fig. 1, an Ethernet switch consistent with the present invention contains a standard configuration. That is, the Ethernet switch includes a switching mechanism 110 coupled to several port interface controllers 120. The elements comprising the port interface controllers 120 differ, however, from those elements shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a diagram of a port interface controller 300 consistent with the present invention. The port interface controller 300 includes some of the same elements included in the conventional port interface controller 120 shown in Fig. 2. These elements contain the same reference numerals.
The port interface controller 300 includes an Ethernet interface 210, a MAC address learner 220, a MAC address table 230, a controller 250, a multicast request matcher 310, a multicast Ethernet address table 320, a timer 330, and an address matcher 340.
The multicast request matcher 310 includes a standard bit-pattern matcher of fixed length whose target pattern is updatable through a software download to support a variety of protocols and different versions. For the current version of IP and Ethernet protocols, the target pattern operates on the 13th, 25th, and 35th bytes of the Ethernet packet (i.e., the protocol-type field of the Ethernet and IP headers, and the version and type fields of the IGMP header). The matcher 310 finds a match, for example, if the protocol fields are IP and IGMP, and the byte for version and type is 0x21.
The multicast address table 320 contains a list of Ethernet multicast addresses of hosts attached to the Ethernet channel. The table is similar in construction and format to the MAC address table 230. The timer 330 is a counting mechanism implemented in hardware, using a conventional counter, or software, using a conventional counting algorithm. The address matcher 340 includes a mechanism for comparing a destination address to the addresses stored in the MAC address table 230 and the multicast address table 320.
Fig. 4 is a flowchart of multicast processing of an incoming packet performed by the port interface controller 300 of Fig. 3. The Ethernet interface 210 receives an incoming packet from a host attached to an Ethernet channel [step 410].
The interface 210 sends the packet to the MAC address learner 220 and the multicast request matcher 310 [step 420].
The MAC address learner 220 reads the Ethernet address of the originating host and stores the address in the MAC address table 230, if the address is not already stored there [step 430]. The controller 250 maintains addresses of attached hosts in the MAC address table 230. If a host has not transmitted for a certain period of time, the controller 250 removes the MAC address of the host from the MAC address table 230.
The multicast request matcher 310 determines whether the packet matches a target pattern [step 440]. For example, the matcher 310 may compare the packet to a target pattern that operates on the 13th, 25th, and 35th bytes of the packet. If the packet matches the target pattern [step 450], the matcher 310 performs no decoding, but simply extracts the 37th through 39th bytes of the packet and sets the highest bit to zero. The matcher 310 then appends these bytes to an Ethernet multicast address header, such as the Ethernet multicast header 0x01005e000, and stores the newly formed Ethernet multicast address in the multicast address table 320 [step 460].
The Ethernet multicast address is derived according to an IP to Ethernet address mapping method defined in IETF RFC-1112.
The multicast matcher 310 stores the multicast address in the multicast address table 320 only if the packet is a request to join a multicast group. If the packet is, instead, a request to leave a multicast group, the multicast matcher 310 removes the multicast address from the multicast address table 320.
In addition to storing the multicast address, the matcher 310 starts or restarts the timer 330. The timer 310 is used to determine the length of time that an address remains in the multicast address table 320. An address is removed from the table upon the expiration of the timer. If the packet does not match the target pattern [step 450] or does match and the multicast address has already been stored in the multicast address table 320 [step 460], the multicast address matcher 310 sends the packet to the controller 250 [step 470]. The controller 250 forwards the packet to the switching mechanism [step 480], ending the processing of the incoming packet by the port interface controller 300.
Fig. 5 is a flowchart of multicast processing of an outgoing packet performed by the port interface controller 300 of Fig. 3. The controller 250 receives an outgoing packet from the switching mechanism [step 510]. The controller 250 forwards the packet to the address matcher 340 [step 520].
The address matcher 340 determines whether the packet is of a unicast, multicast, or broadcast type [step 530]. If the packet is not a broadcast packet [step 540], the address matcher 340 compares the destination address to the addresses stored in the MAC address table 230 and the multicast address table 320 [step 550]. If the destination does not match an address in either of the tables [step 560], the address matcher 340 discards the packet [step 570].
If the packet is a broadcast packet [step 540] or is a unicast or multicast packet and the destination address matches an address in either the MAC address table 230 or the multicast address table 320 [step 560], the address matcher 340 transmits the packet on the Ethernet channel via the Ethernet interface 210 [step 580]. The transmission ends the processing of the outgoing packet by the port interface controller 300.
The systems and methods consistent with the present invention support multicasting in a data link layer switch by sending packets to only those ports having an attached host that has joined the multicast group
The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the present invention provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents. For example, the foregoing description was directed toward multicasting in an Ethernet switch. However, the present invention is not limited to an Ethernet switch. The foregoing description applies equally well to other data link layer switching mechanisms.

Claims

Claims:
1. In a data link layer switch having a switching mechanism coupled to a plurality of port interface controllers, each of the port interface controllers comprising: a multicast address table that stores multicast addresses for hosts attached to the port interface controller; a multicast matcher that matches an incoming packet to a target pattern, generates a multicast address from the incoming packet if the incoming packet matches the target pattern, and stores the generated multicast address in the multicast address table; and a timer that determines an amount of time that the generated multicast address remains in the multicast address table.
2. The port interface controller of claim 1 , wherein the multicast matcher includes means for determining whether the incoming packet is a packet requesting to join or leave a multicast group.
3. The port interface controller of claim 2, wherein the multicast matcher further includes means for storing the generated multicast address in the multicast address table when the incoming packet is a packet requesting to join the multicast group.
4. The port interface controller of claim 2, wherein the multicast matcher further includes means for removing the generated multicast address from the multicast address table when the incoming packet is a packet requesting to leave the multicast group.
5. The port interface controller of claim 1 , wherein the multicast matcher includes means for comparing predetermined bytes of the incoming packet to the target pattern to determine if there is a match.
6. The port interface controller of claim 1 , wherein the multicast matcher includes means for extracting predetermined bytes from the incoming packet, and means for appending the predetermined bytes to a multicast header to form the generated multicast address.
7. The port interface controller of claim 1 , wherein the multicast matcher includes means for starting the timer when the multicast address is stored in the multicast address table.
8. The port interface controller of claim 1 , wherein the timer includes means for removing the generated multicast address from the multicast address table upon expiration of the determined amount of time.
9. In a data link layer switch having a switching mechanism coupled to a plurality of port interface controllers, each of the port interface controllers including a multicast address table connected to a multicast matcher, a method for processing an incoming packet by the multicast matcher, the method comprising the steps of: matching the incoming packet to a target pattern; generating a multicast address from the incoming packet if the incoming packet matches the target pattern; and storing the generated multicast address in the multicast address table.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the storing step includes the substep of: determining whether the incoming packet is a packet requesting to join or leave a multicast group.
1 1. The method of claim 10, wherein the storing step further includes the substep of: writing the generated multicast address in the multicast address table when the incoming packet is a packet requesting to join the multicast group.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the storing step further includes the substep of: removing the generated multicast address from the multicast address table when the incoming packet is a packet requesting to leave the multicast group.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein the matching step includes the substep of: comparing predetermined bytes of the incoming packet to the target pattern to determine if there is a match.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein the generating step includes the substeps of: extracting predetermined bytes from the incoming packet, and appending the predetermined bytes to a multicast header to form the generated multicast address.
15. A data link layer switch comprising: a switching mechanism; and a plurality of port interface controllers coupled to the switching mechanism, each of the port interface controllers including: a multicast address table that stores multicast addresses for hosts attached to the port interface controller, a multicast matcher that matches an incoming packet to a target pattern, generates a multicast address from the incoming packet if the incoming packet matches the target pattern, and stores the generated multicast address in the multicast address table, and a timer that determines an amount of time that the generated multicast address remains in the multicast address table.
16. The data link layer switch of claim 15, wherein the multicast matcher includes means for determining whether the incoming packet is a packet requesting to join or leave a multicast group.
17. The data link layer switch of claim 16, wherein the multicast matcher further includes means for storing the generated multicast address in the multicast address table when the incoming packet is a packet requesting to join the multicast group.
18. The data link layer switch of claim 16, wherein the multicast matcher further includes means for removing the generated multicast address from the multicast address table when the incoming packet is a packet requesting to leave the multicast group.
19. The data link layer switch of claim 15, wherein the multicast matcher includes means for comparing predetermined bytes of the incoming packet to the target pattern to determine if there is a match.
20. The data link layer switch of claim 15, wherein the multicast matcher includes means for extracting predetermined bytes from the incoming packet, and means for appending the predetermined bytes to a multicast header to form the generated multicast address.
21. The data link layer switch of claim 15, wherein the multicast matcher includes means for starting the timer when the multicast address is stored in the multicast address table.
22. The data link layer switch of claim 15, wherein the timer includes means for removing the generated multicast address from the multicast address table upon expiration of the determined amount of time.
23. The data link layer switch of claim 15, wherein the port interface controller further includes a controller for forwarding the incoming packet to the switching mechanism for routing to a destination.
24. In a data layer switching means having a plurality of port controlling means, each of the port controlling means comprising: means for storing multicast addresses for hosts attached to the port controlling means; means for matching an incoming packet to a target pattern; means for generating a multicast address from the incoming packet if the incoming packet matches the target pattern; means for writing the generated multicast address in the storing means; and means for determining an amount of time that the generated multicast address remains in the storing means.
25. In a data link layer switch having a switching mechanism coupled to a plurality of port interface controllers, each of the port interface controllers comprising: a multicast address table that stores multicast addresses for hosts attached to the port interface controller; a MAC address table that stores unicast addresses for hosts attached to the port interface controller; and an address matcher that matches a destination address of an outgoing packet to the multicast and unicast addresses stored in the multicast and MAC address tables, respectively, and transmits the outgoing packet to the destination address if the destination address matches an address stored in one of the multicast address table and the MAC address table.
26. The port interface controller of claim 25, wherein the address matcher includes means for determining whether the outgoing packet is a broadcast packet.
27. The port interface controller of claim 26, wherein the address matcher further includes means for transmitting the outgoing packet to the destination address regardless of whether the destination address matches an address in the multicast and MAC address tables if the outgoing packet is determined to be a broadcast packet.
28. The port interface controller of claim 25, wherein the address matcher includes means for discarding the outgoing packet if the destination address fails to match an address in the multicast and MAC address tables.
29. In a data link layer switch having a plurality of port interface controllers, each of the port interface controllers including a multicast address table storing multicast addresses for hosts attached to the port interface controller, a MAC address table storing unicast addresses for hosts attached to the port interface controller, and an address matcher, a method for processing an outgoing packet by the address matcher, comprising the steps of: matching a destination address of the outgoing packet to the multicast and unicast addresses stored in the multicast and MAC address tables, respectively; and transmitting the outgoing packet to the destination address if the destination address matches an address stored in one of the multicast address table and the MAC address table.
30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of: determining whether the outgoing packet is a broadcast packet.
31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of: transmitting the outgoing packet to the destination address regardless of whether the destination address matches an address in the multicast and MAC address tables if the outgoing packet is determined to be a broadcast packet.
32. The method of claim 29, wherein the transmitting step includes the substep of: discarding the outgoing packet if the destination address fails to match an address in the multicast and MAC address tables.
33. A data layer switch comprising: a switching mechanism; and a plurality of port interface controllers, each of the port interface controllers including a multicast address table that stores multicast addresses for hosts attached to the port interface controller, a MAC address table that stores unicast addresses for hosts attached to the port interface controller, and i an address matcher that matches a destination address of an outgoing packet to the multicast and unicast addresses stored in the multicast and MAC address tables, respectively, and transmits the outgoing packet to the destination address if the destination address matches an address stored in one of the multicast address table and the MAC address table.
34. The data layer switch of claim 33, wherein the address matcher includes means for determining whether the outgoing packet is a broadcast packet.
35. The data layer switch of claim 34, wherein the address matcher further includes means for transmitting the outgoing packet to the destination address regardless of whether the destination address matches an address in the multicast and MAC address tables if the outgoing packet is determined to be a broadcast packet.
36. The data layer switch of claim 33, wherein the address matcher includes 5 means for discarding the outgoing packet if the destination address fails to match an address in the multicast and MAC address tables.
37. In a data layer switching means having a plurality of port controlling means, each of the port controlling means comprising: 0 means for storing multicast addresses for hosts attached to the port controlling means; means for storing unicast addresses for hosts attached to the port controlling means; means for matching a destination address of an outgoing packet to the stored multicast and unicast addresses; and means for transmitting the outgoing packet to the destination address if the destination address matches an address stored in one of the storing means.
38. A data link layer switch comprising: a switching mechanism; and a plurality of port interface controllers coupled to the switching mechanism, each of the port interface controllers including: a multicast address table that stores multicast addresses for hosts attached to the port interface controller, a MAC address table that stores unicast addresses for hosts attached to the port interface controller, a multicast matcher that matches an incoming packet to a target pattern, generates a multicast address from the incoming packet if the incoming packet matches the target pattern, and stores the generated multicast address in the multicast address table, and an address matcher that matches a destination address of an outgoing packet to the multicast and unicast addresses stored in the multicast and MAC address tables, respectively, and transmits the outgoing packet to the destination address if the destination address matches an address stored in one of the multicast address table and the MAC address table.
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