Importance

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Abstract

A novel virtual port method and apparatus for use in the communication between multiple nodes in a network system is disclosed. Particularly, the virtual port concept is implemented in a switching unit having a plurality of physical ports. According to the present invention, at least one virtual port can be defined by the user to represent a corresponding number of group of physical ports. In this case, a single virtual port identification can be used by the network manager to identify all the physical ports belonging to a trunking group. By using one virtual port identification address instead of a group of physical port addresses, a tremendous reduction in processing overhead in the network manager can be achieved.

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First Claim