Patent attributes
A network element includes ports, a hardware fabric, a packet classifier and control logic. The ports are configured to transmit and receive packets over a network. The fabric is configured to forward the packets between the ports. The packet classifier is configured to receive at least some of the packets and to specify an action to be applied to a packet in accordance with a set of rules. The classifier includes (i) multiple Ternary Content Addressable Memories (TCAMs), each TCAM configured to match the packet to a respective subset of the set of rules and to output a match result, and (ii) circuitry configured to specify the action to be applied to the packet based on match results produced for the packet by the multiple TCAMs, and based on a priority defined among the multiple TCAMs. The control logic is configured to apply the specified action to the packet.
