A novel ultra high-speed multi-layer table lookup method using TCAM for differentiated services in the Internet

Abstract

This paper proposes ultra high-speed multi-layer table lookup method using ternary content-addressable memory (TCAM) for an ultra high-speed policy-based packet forwarding engine. It can store very wide policy rules in TCAM, whose width is limited. For IP version 6, policy rules could be 304 bits wide. This method enables us to use commercially available TCAM for multi-layer table lookups, and thus build an ultra high-speed packet forwarding engine for differentiated services in the Internet.