Portable networking interface method and apparatus for distributed switching system

Abstract

An apparatus and method to provide a portable networking interface for distributed switching systems. Two Application Program Interfaces (APIs) are defined for communication to a Forwarding Database Distribution Library (FDDL). The FDDL sits between network client applications and the switch device driver in order to provide a uniform interface to the switch device driver. Towers may be added to the FDDL to provide additional functionality specific to certain client applications.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the steps comprising:
 receiving information at a port controller in a first protocol from a first node machine;   communicating the information from the port controller in the first protocol to a switch fabric;   communicating the information from the switch fabric to a switch device driver within an operating system;   communicating the information from the switch device driver to a Forwarding Database Distribution Library (FDDL); and   communicating the information from the FDDL to a first protocol client;   wherein the FDDL allows each protocol application to distribute its database and functionality to port controllers within the switch fabric, wherein the distribution facilitates hardware forwarding at the port controllers;   wherein said each protocol application defines a specific set of FDDL messages that are exchanged between the protocol application and the switch fabric, wherein the messages are passed to a software running at each of the port controllers.   
   
   
       23 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 22  having further stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the steps comprising:
 receiving additional information at a port controller in a second protocol from the first node machine;   communicating the additional information from the port controller in the second protocol to the switch fabric;   communicating the additional information from the switch fabric to the switch device driver within the operating system;   communicating the additional information from the switch device driver to the Forwarding Database Distribution Library (FDDL); and   communicating the additional information from the FDDL to a second protocol client.   
   
   
       24 - 34 . (canceled)