ENHANCEMENT OF END-TO-END NETWORK QOS

• US 20110134753A1
• Filed: 02/14/2011
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kashyap, Vivek
• Granted Patent: US 8,855,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2408 for supporting different services, e.g. a differentiated services [DiffServ] type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2441 relying on flow classification, e.g. using integrated services [IntServ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/90 Buffering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/901 using storage descriptor, e.g. read or write pointers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/9031 Wraparound memory, e.g. overrun or underrun detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/9063 Intermediate storage in different physical parts of a node or terminal

Abstract

A network endpoint system and related method and computer program product for use in a network to support enhanced end-to-end QoS in the network. The network endpoint system is adapted to receive network data of varying priority on behalf of a data consumer operating at the application layer of a network protocol stack implemented by the network endpoint system. The network endpoint system includes a network interface controller adapted to receive network frames containing the network data, plural network data handling channels each having an associated priority, and priority processing logic adapted to transfer the network data from the network interface controller to the plural data handling channels on a prioritized basis according to the network data priority. Also disclosed are a network interface controller and a network node to support enhanced end-to-end QoS in a network.

Claims

1. A network endpoint system for receiving network data of varying priority on behalf of a data consumer operating at the application layer of a network protocol stack implemented by said network endpoint system, comprising:

a network interface controller operable to receive network frames containing said inbound network data;

plural network data handling channels each having an associated priority and representing a pathway for kernel protocol stack processing of said inbound network data; and

priority processing logic operable to transfer said network data from said network interface controller to said plural data handling channels and present said inbound network data for kernel protocol stack processing on a prioritized basis according to said network data priority such that higher priority inbound network data is presented for kernel protocol stack processing more quickly than lower priority inbound network data.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said network data priority is indicated by a priority indicator field in said network frames.

3. A system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said network interface controller or a network interface controller device driver in said system implements a portion of said priority processing logic that inspects said priority indicator field as one of a link layer priority indicator in a link layer portion of said frame or a network layer priority indicator in a network packet portion of said frame.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said plural network data handling channels comprise plural ring buffers containing buffer descriptors corresponding to said network data, each of said ring buffers having an associated ring buffer priority;

a first portion of said priority processing logic is implemented by priority mapping logic in said network interface controller adapted to inspect said network frames and deliver said buffer descriptors to said plural ring buffers according to said network data priority and said ring buffer priority; and

a second portion of said priority processing logic is implemented by ring buffer selection logic in a network interface controller device driver in said system adapted to process said buffer descriptors in said plural ring buffers and deliver said buffer descriptors for kernel protocol stack processing according to said ring buffer priority.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said plural network data handling channels comprise plural kernel protocol stack channels operable to process buffer descriptors corresponding to said inbound network data, each of said kernel protocol stack channels having an associated kernel protocol stack channel priority; and

said priority processing logic is implemented by channel selection logic in a network interface controller device driver in said system operable to deliver said buffer descriptors to said kernel protocol stack channels according to said kernel protocol stack channel priority.

6. A system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said plural network data handling channels comprise plural buffer descriptor queues, each having an associated buffer descriptor queue priority and being operable to enqueue said buffer descriptors according to said network data priority.

7. A system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said plural kernel protocol stack channels comprise prioritized buffer descriptor processing threads providing a prioritized allocation of processing resources for handling said inbound network data according to said kernel protocol stack channel priorities.

8. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said plural network data handling channels comprise plural comprise plural ring buffers containing buffer descriptors corresponding to said network data, each of said ring buffers having an associated ring buffer priority;

said plural network data handling channels further comprise plural kernel protocol stack channels adapted to process buffer descriptors corresponding to said network data, each of said kernel protocol stack channels having an associated kernel protocol stack channel priority;

said priority processing logic is implemented by priority mapping logic in said network interface controller adapted to inspect said network frames and deliver said buffer descriptors to said plural ring buffers according to said network data priority and said ring buffer priority;

said priority processing logic is further implemented by ring buffer selection logic in a network interface controller device driver in said system adapted to process said buffer descriptors in said plural ring buffers according to said ring buffer priority; and

said priority processing logic is further implemented by channel selection logic in said network interface controller device driver adapted to deliver said buffer descriptors on said plural ring buffers to said kernel protocol stack channels according to said kernel protocol stack channel priority.

9. A system in accordance with claim 4, further including buffer allocation logic adapted to allocate said buffer descriptors on a prioritized basis according to said network data priority and in accordance with memory availability.

10. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plural network data handling channels receive a prioritized allocation of processing resources and memory resources for handling said network data based on said associated priority.

11. A method for receiving network data of varying priority on behalf of a data consumer operating at the application layer of a network protocol stack, comprising:

receiving network frames containing inbound network data at a network interface controller;

providing plural network data handling channels each having an associated priority and representing a pathway for kernel protocol stack processing of said inbound network data; and

performing priority processing to transfer said inbound network data from said network interface controller to said plural network data handling channels and to present said inbound network data for kernel protocol stack processing on a prioritized basis according to said network priority such that higher priority inbound network data is presented for kernel protocol stack processing more quickly than lower priority inbound network data.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein said network data priority is indicated by a priority indicator field in said network frames.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein said priority processing further includes inspecting said priority indicator field as one of a link layer priority indicator in a link layer portion of said frame or a network layer priority indicator in a network packet portion of said frame.

14. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

said plural network data handling channels comprise plural ring buffers containing buffer descriptors corresponding to said network data, each of said ring buffers having an associated ring buffer priority;

a first portion of said priority processing is implemented by priority mapping logic in said network interface controller adapted to inspect said network frames and deliver said buffer descriptors to said plural ring buffers according to said network data priority and said ring buffer priority; and

a second portion of said priority processing is implemented by ring buffer selection logic in a network interface controller device driver in said system adapted to process said buffer descriptors in said plural ring buffers and deliver said buffer descriptors for kernel protocol stack processing.

15. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

said plural network data handling channels comprise plural kernel protocol stack channels operable to process buffer descriptors corresponding to said inbound network data, each of said kernel protocol stack channels having an associated kernel protocol stack priority; and

said priority processing is implemented by channel selection logic in a network interface controller device driver in said system operable to deliver said buffer descriptors to said kernel protocol stack channels on according to said kernel protocol stack channel priority.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein said plural network data handling channels comprise plural buffer descriptor queues, each having an associated buffer descriptor queue priority and being operable to enqueue said buffer descriptors according to said network data priority.

17. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein said plural kernel protocol stack channels comprise prioritized buffer descriptor processing threads providing a prioritized allocation of processing resources for handling said inbound network data according to said kernel protocol stack channel priorities.

18. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

said plural network data handling channels comprise plural ring buffers containing buffer descriptors corresponding to said network data, each of said ring buffers having an associated ring buffer priority;

said plural network data handling channels further comprise plural kernel protocol stack channels adapted to process buffer descriptors corresponding to said network data, each of said kernel protocol stack channels having an associated kernel protocol stack channel priority;

said priority processing is implemented by priority mapping logic in said network interface controller adapted to inspect said network frames and deliver said buffer descriptors to said plural ring buffers according to said network data priority and said ring buffer priority;

said priority processing is further implemented by ring buffer selection logic in a network interface controller device driver in said system adapted to process said buffer descriptors in said plural ring buffers according to said ring buffer priority; and

said priority processing logic is further implemented by channel selection logic in said network interface controller device driver adapted to deliver said buffer descriptors on said plural ring buffers to said kernel protocol stack channels according to said network data kernel protocol stack channel priority.

19. A method in accordance with claim 14, further including allocating said buffer descriptors on a prioritized basis according to said network data priority and in accordance with memory availability.

20. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein said plural network data handling channels receive a prioritized allocation of processing resources and memory resources for handling said network data based on said associated priority.

21. A computer program product, comprising:

one or more computer useable storage media;

programming logic associated with said computer useable storage media for programming a data processing platform to receive network data of varying priority on behalf of a data consumer operating at the application layer of a network protocol stack, as by;

receiving network frames containing inbound network data at a network interface controller;

providing plural network data handling channels each having an associated priority and representing a pathway for kernel protocol stack processing of said inbound network data; and

performing priority processing to transfer said inbound network data from said network interface controller to said plural network data handling channels and present said inbound network data for kernel protocol stack processing on a prioritized basis according to said network priority such that higher priority inbound network data is presented for kernel protocol stack processing more quickly than lower priority inbound network data.

22. A computer program product in accordance with claim 21, wherein said network data priority is indicated by a priority indicator field in said network frames.

23. A computer program product in accordance with claim 22, wherein said priority processing further includes inspecting said priority indicator field as one of a link layer priority indicator in a link layer portion of said frame or a network layer priority indicator in a network packet portion of said frame.

24. A computer program product in accordance with claim 21, wherein:

said plural network data handling channels comprise plural ring buffers containing buffer descriptors corresponding to said network data, each of said ring buffers having an associated ring buffer priority;

a first portion of said priority processing is implemented by priority mapping logic in said network interface controller adapted to inspect said network frames and deliver said buffer descriptors to said plural ring buffers according to said network data priority and said ring buffer priority; and

a second portion of said priority processing is implemented by ring buffer selection logic in a network interface controller device driver in said system adapted to process said buffer descriptors in said plural ring buffers and deliver said buffer descriptors for kernel protocol stack processing according to said ring buffer priority.

25. A computer program product in accordance with claim 21, wherein:

said plural network data handling channels comprise plural kernel protocol stack channels operable to process buffer descriptors corresponding to said inbound network data, each of said kernel protocol stack channels having an associated kernel protocol stack channel priority; and

said priority processing is implemented by channel selection logic in a network interface controller device driver in said system operable to deliver said buffer descriptors to said kernel protocol stack channels according to said kernel protocol stack channel priority.

26. A computer program product in accordance with claim 25, wherein said plural network data handling channels comprise plural buffer descriptor queues, each having an associated buffer descriptor queue priority and being operable to enqueue said buffer descriptors according to said network data priority.

27. A computer program product in accordance with claim 25, wherein said plural kernel protocol stack channels comprise prioritized buffer descriptor processing threads providing a prioritized allocation of processing resources for handling said inbound network data according to said kernel protocol stack channel priorities.

28. A computer program product in accordance with claim 21, wherein:

said plural network data handling channels comprise plural comprise plural ring buffers containing buffer descriptors corresponding to said network data, each of said ring buffers having an associated ring buffer priority;

said plural network data handling channels further comprise plural kernel protocol stack channels adapted to process buffer descriptors corresponding to said network data each of said kernel protocol stack channels having an associated kernel protocol stack channel priority;

said priority processing is implemented by priority mapping logic in said network interface controller adapted to inspect said network frames and deliver said buffer descriptors to said plural ring buffers according to said network data priority and said ring buffer priority;

said priority processing is further implemented by ring buffer selection logic in a network interface controller device driver in said system adapted to process said buffer descriptors in said plural ring buffers according to said ring buffer priority; and

said priority processing is further implemented by channel selection logic in said network interface controller device driver adapted to deliver said buffer descriptors on said plural ring buffers to said kernel protocol stack channels according to said kernel protocol stack channel priority.

29. A computer program product in accordance with claim 24, further including allocating said buffer descriptors on a prioritized basis according to said network data priority and in accordance with memory availability.

30. A computer program product in accordance with claim 21, wherein said plural network data handling channels receive a prioritized allocation of processing resources and memory resources for handling said network data based on said associated priority.

31-35. -35. (canceled)