Patent attributes
Systems and methods consistent with embodiments of the present invention provide a method for forwarding packets between VLAN groups served by segmented ports on a network switching device. A request from a source in a VLAN group to a destination in another VLAN group is identified. Information needed to route packets to the destination is obtained by re-broadcasting the request for destination information to all VLAN groups, which do not include the source, that are served by the network switching device. Information needed to route packets to the source is also obtained. In some embodiments, source and destination routing information obtained, is stored in tables in a memory cache on the network switching device. Information stored in the tables is used to relay additional packets between the segmented ports on the device serving the source and destination.