Importance

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Abstract

Management data is selectively supplied to a management agent by a network switch using either a media access control (MAC) layer interface or PCI bus interface to provide maximum flexibility for the management agent. The management data includes management packets having at least a portion of a received data packet, and management information specifying receive status and network switch response characteristics to the corresponding received data packet. The network switch includes a plurality of network ports, including network traffic ports and one management queue for selectively supplying the management data to either the PCI interface or the management MAC interface. The selective output of the management frame via the alternate output paths enables the disclosed network switch to be implemented in existing switch fabric that uses a predetermined management protocol. The paths may also be segregated to optimize bandwidth for high priority data and low priority data, respectively.

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First Claim