Importance

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Abstract

A method for establishing and maintaining virtual network domains in a segmented computer network having a first domain and a second domain. A first table entry for a first endstation in a first forwarding table of a first switching fabric circuit is created. The first table entry includes domain information specifying that the first endstation is in the first domain and port information specifying that the first endstation is coupled to a first port. A packet having the first endstation as a source is received by the first port of the first switching fabric circuit, and a destination for the packet is determined. If the packet specifies a second endstation of the first domain as the destination, the packet is forwarded to the second endstation. If the destination for the packet specifies more than one endstation, the domain of the source of the packet is determined, and the packet is forwarded to the specified endstations of the first domain. For a second embodiment, source and destination information are compared to determine forwarding information for a packet, and the packet is forwarded as specified by the forwarding information. For a third embodiment, intelligent selection between multiple paths to the same endstation is provided by the comparison of source and destination forwarding information.

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First Claim