Data link layer switch with multicast capability

1. A system comprising:

a receiver that receives a data packet having a data link layer host address;

a first address table that stores multicast addresses;

a multicast matcher that determines a multicast address from the data packet if the data packet matches a target pattern associated with multicast packets, and stores the determined multicast address in the first address table when at least a portion of the data packet matches the target pattern;

a timing facility that indicates a time at which the determined multicast address is to be removed from the first address table; and

a data link layer address learner that determines the data link layer host address and stores the data link layer host address in a second address table, wherein the first address table and the second address table are separate tables.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the timing facility includes a counting mechanism.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a switching mechanism that forwards the data packet to a destination of the data packet.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data packet is an Ethernet packet.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the target pattern is a bit pattern that indicates a multicast packet.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the multicast matcher is further configured to determine if the data packet is a request to join a multicast group.

7. A system comprising:

a receiver that is configured to receive a data packet having a data link layer host address;

a switching mechanism that is configured to forward the data packet;

a multicast address table that stores multicast addresses;

a multicast matcher coupled to the receiver, the switching mechanism and the multicast address table, the multicast matcher configured to receive the data packet from the receiver, determine a multicast address from the data packet if the data packet matches a target pattern associated with multicast packets, store the determined multicast address in the multicast address table when the data packet matches at least a portion of the target pattern, and forward the data packet to the switching mechanism for delivery to a destination of the data packet; and,

a data link layer address learner that determines the data link layer host address and stores the data link layer host address in another address table separate from the multicast address table.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the multicast matcher is coupled to the switching mechanism via a controller.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the data packet is an Ethernet packet.

10. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:

a timing facility that indicates a time at which the determined multicast address is to be removed from the multicast address table.

11. A method comprising:

receiving a data packet having a data link layer host address;

comparing the data packet to a target pattern;

determining a multicast address from the data packet when at least a portion of the data packet matches the target pattern;

storing the determined multicast address in a data link layer address table;

forwarding the data packet towards a destination of the data packet; and

determining the data link layer host address by operation of a data link layer address learner and storing the data link layer host address in another address table separate from the data link layer address table.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining that the data packet includes a request to join a multicast group.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

setting a timer that indicates a time at which the determined multicast address is to be removed from the data link layer address table.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the data packet is an Ethernet packet.