Managing data traffic on multiple ports

• US 6,868,062 B1
• Filed: 03/28/2000
• Issued: 03/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Yadav, Satyendra, Tang, Puqi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Thien
• Application Number:
  US09/536,968
• Time in Patent Office: 1,813 Days
• Field of Search: 370/230, 370/231, 370/233, 370/234, 370/235, 370/235.1, 370/252, 370/253, 370/29, 370/30, 370/30.1, 370/232
• US Class Current: 370/234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/026 using flow identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/24 Multipath
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/125 by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/193 at the transport layer, e.g. TCP related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/215 using token-bucket

Abstract

A traffic pattern of data packets that originate at a traffic source and are transmitted through one of multiple ports is monitored. A parameter value characterizing fluctuations a in a transmission rate of data through the port relative to a transmission rate for the monitored traffic pattern is generated, and data packets from the traffic source are allocated to at least one other port for transmission based on the first parameter value.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

monitoring a transmission of data packets through one of multiple ports of a server coupled to a traffic source;

characterizing the monitored transmission of data packets in accordance with a token bucket model;

generating a first parameter value characterizing fluctuations in a transmission rate of data through the port relative to a transmission rate for the monitored transmission of data packets, wherein the first parameter value is generated based on the monitoring of the transmission of data packet 5, wherein the first parameter value characterizes a size of the fluctuations relative to an average transmission rate for the monitored transmission, and wherein said generating the first parameter value comprises determining a token bucket size for the monitored transmission of data packets;

generating a second parameter value characterizing an average data transmission rate of data through the port for the monitored transmission, wherein said generating the second parameter value comprises determining a token bucket rate for the monitored transmission of data packets; and

allocating data packets in said transmission from the traffic source to at least one other port for transmission based on the first parameter value and the second parameter value, wherein the allocating of data packets is accomplished within the server.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising allocating data packets from the traffic source for transmission such that the rate at which data are transmitted through each of the multiple ports is lower than a predetermined upper bound.

3. A method of comprising:

monitoring transmissions of data packets through multiple ports of a server coupled to a traffic source;

characterizing the transmissions in accordance with a token bucket model;

generating respective first parameter values characterizing respective fluctuations in respective data transmission rates of data through respective ports relative to respective transmission rates for each of the monitored transmissions of data packets, wherein the respective first parameter values are generated based on the monitoring of the respective transmission, wherein the respective first parameter values characterize respective sizes of fluctuations in respective transmission rates of data through a respective port relative to respective average transmission rates for each of the monitored transmissions of data packets, and wherein generating the respective first parameter values comprises determining respective token bucket sizes for each of the monitored transmissions of data packets;

generating respective second parameter values characterizing respective average data transmission rates of data through a respective port for each of the monitored transmissions of data packets, wherein said generating the respective second parameter values comprises determining respective token bucket rates for each of the monitored transmissions of data packets; and

allocating outgoing data packets in said monitored transmissions from the server among the multiple ports for transmission based on the respective first parameter values and the respective second parameter values, wherein the allocating of outgoing data packets is accomplished within the server.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

allocating data packets from the traffic source among the multiple ports for transmission such that the rate at which data are transmitted through each of the multiple ports is lower than a predetermined upper bound.

5. A method comprising:

monitoring a transmission of data packets through one of multiple ports of a server coupled to a traffic source;

characterizing the monitored transmission of data packets in accordance with a token bucket model;

generating a first parameter value characterizing a first data transmission rate of data through the port for the monitored transmission, the first data transmission rate being averaged over a first duration of time, wherein the first parameter value is generated based on the monitoring of the transmission, and wherein said generating the first parameter value comprises determining a token bucket size for the monitored transmission of data packets;

generating a second parameter value characterizing a second data transmission rate of data through the port for the monitored transmission, the second data transmission rate being averaged over a second duration of time, the second duration of time being shorter than the first duration of time, wherein said generating the second parameter value comprises determining a token bucket rate for the monitored transmission of data packets; and

allocating outgoing data packets in said transmission from the server to at least one other port for transmission based on the first parameter value and the second parameter value, wherein said allocating the data packets is accomplished within the server.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising allocating data packets for transmission such that the rate at which data are transmitted through each of the multiple ports is lower than a predetermined upper bound.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a traffic source coupled to multiple ports of a server;

a collector configured to monitor transmissions of data packets through multiple ports, wherein the monitored transmissions of data packets are characterized in accordance with a token bucket model;

an engine configured to generate respective first parameter values characterizing respective fluctuations in respective data transmission rates of data through a port relative to respective data packets, wherein the first parameter value is generated based on the monitoring of transmissions, wherein respective first parameter values characterize respective sizes of fluctuations in respective data transmission rates of data through a respective port relative to respective average transmission rates for each of the monitored transmissions, wherein the engine is further configured to generate respective second parameter values characterizing respective average data transmission rates of data through a respective port for each of the monitored transmissions of data packets, and wherein the engine is further configured to determine respective token bucket sizes for each of the monitored transmissions of data packets and to determine respective token bucket rates for each of the monitored transmissions of data packets; and

a controller within the server, the controller configured to allocate outgoing data packets in said transmission from the server among the multiple ports for transmission based on the respective first parameter values, and the controller is further configured to allocate data packets from the traffic source among the multiple ports for transmission based on the respective first parameter values, and the respective second parameter values.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to allocate data packets among the multiple ports for transmission such that the rate at which data are transmitted through each of the ports is lower than a predetermined upper bound.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a traffic source coupled to multiple ports of a server;

a collector configured to monitor a transmission of data packets through one of the multiple ports, wherein the monitored transmission of data packets is characterized in accordance with a token bucket model;

an engine configured to generate a first parameter value based on the monitoring of transmission, the first parameter value characterizing a first data transmission rate of data through the port for the monitored transmission, the first data transmission rate being averaged over a first duration of time, and to generate a second parameter value characterizing a second data transmission rate of data through the port for the monitored transmission, the second data transmission rate being averaged over a second duration of time, the second duration of time being shorter than the first duration of time, and wherein the engine is further configured to determine a token bucket size and a token bucket rate for the monitored transmission of data packets; and

a controller within the server, the controller configured to allocate outgoing data packets in said transmission from the server to at least one other port for transmission based on the first parameter value and the second parameter value.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to allocate data packets from the traffic source for transmission such that the rate at which data are transmitted through each of the multiple ports is lower than a predetermined upper bound.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a traffic source coupled to multiple ports of a server;

a collector configured to monitor transmissions of data packets through the multiple ports;

an engine configured to;

generate respective first parameter values based on the monitored transmission of data packets, the respective first parameter values characterizing respective first data transmission rates of data through a port for each of the monitored transmissions, the first data transmission rates being averaged over respective first durations of time, and

generate respective second parameter values characterizing respective second data transmission rates of data through a port for each of the monitored transmissions, the second data transmission rates being averaged over respective second durations of time, the respective second durations of time being shorter than the respective first durations of time; and

a controller within the server, the controller configured to allocate outgoing data packets in said transmissions from the server to at least one other port for transmission based on the respective first parameter values and the respective second parameter values;

wherein the transmissions are characterized in accordance with a token bucket model; and

the engine is further configured to determine respective token bucket sizes for each of the monitored transmissions of data packets and to determine respective token bucket rates for each of the monitored transmissions of data packets.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to allocate data packets for transmission such that the rate at which data are transmitted through each of the multiple ports is lower than a predetermined upper bound.

13. A system comprising:

at least four ports;

a traffic source coupled with the ports of a server;

a collector configured to monitor transmissions of data packets through the ports, wherein the monitored transmissions of data packets are characterized in accordance with a token bucket model;

an engine configured to generate respective first parameter values characterizing respective fluctuations in respective data transmission rates of data through a port relative to respective transmission rates for each of the monitored transmissions of data packets, wherein the first parameter value is generated based on the monitoring of transmissions, wherein respective first parameter values characterize respective sizes of fluctuations in respective data transmission rates of data through a respective port relative to respective average transmission rates for each of the monitored transmissions, wherein the engine is further configured to generate respective second parameter values characterizing respective average data transmission rates of data through a respective port for each of the monitored transmissions of data packets, and wherein the engine is further configured to determine respective token bucket sizes for each of the monitored transmissions of data packets and to determine respective taken bucket rates for each of the monitored transmissions of data packets; and

a controller within the server, the controller configured to allocate outgoing data packets in said transmission from the server among the ports for transmission based on the respective first parameter values, and the controller is further configured to allocate data packets from the traffic source among the ports for transmission based on the respective first parameter values and the respective second parameter values.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to allocate data packets among the ports for transmission such that the rate at which data are transmitted through each of the ports is lower than a predetermined upper bound.

15. A system comprising:

at least four ports;

a traffic source coupled to the ports of a server;

a collector configured to monitor a transmission of data packets through one of the ports, wherein the monitored transmission of data packets is characterized in accordance with a token bucket model;

an engine configured to generate a first parameter value based on the monitoring of transmission, the first parameter value characterizing a first data transmission rate of data through the port for the monitored transmission, the first data transmission rate being averaged over a first duration of time, and to generate a second parameter value characterizing a second data transmission rate of data through the port for the monitored transmission, the second data transmission rate being averaged over a second duration of time, the second duration of time being shorter than the first duration of time, and wherein the engine is further configured to determine a token bucket size and a token bucket rate for the monitored transmission of data packets; and

a controller within the server, the controller configured to allocate outgoing data packets in said transmission from the server to at least one other port for transmission based on the first parameter value and the second parameter value.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to allocate data packets from the traffic source for transmission such that the rate at which data are transmitted through each of the ports is lower than a predetermined upper bound.

17. An article comprising a computer-readable medium storing instructions for causing a traffic source having multiple ports for transmitting data packets to perform operations comprising:

monitoring a transmission of data packets through one of multiple ports of a server coupled to a traffic source;

characterizing the monitored transmission of data packets in accordance with a token bucket model;

generating a first parameter value characterizing fluctuations in a transmission rate of data through the port relative to a transmission rate for the monitored transmission of data packets, wherein the first parameter value is generated based on the monitoring of the transmission of data packets, wherein the first parameter value characterizes a size of the fluctuations relative to an average transmission rate for the monitored transmission, and wherein generating the first parameter value comprises determining a token bucket size for the monitored transmission of data packets;

generating a second parameter value characterizing an average data transmission rate of data through the port for the monitored transmission, wherein generating the second parameter value comprises determining a token bucket rate for the monitored transmission of data packets; and

allocating data packets in said transmission from the traffic source to at least one other port for transmission based on the first parameter value and the second parameter value, wherein the allocating of data packets is accomplished within the server.

18. The article of claim 17, wherein allocating data packets comprises allocating data packets from the traffic source for transmission such that the rate at which data are transmitted through each of the multiple ports is lower than a predetermined upper bound.

19. An article comprising a computer-readable medium storing instructions for causing a traffic source having multiple ports for transmitting data packets to perform operations comprising:

monitoring a transmission of data packets through one of multiple ports of a server coupled to a traffic source;

characterizing the monitored transmission of data packets in accordance with a token bucket model;

generating a first parameter value characterizing a first data transmission rate of data through the port for the monitored transmission, the first data transmission rate being averaged over a first duration of time, wherein the first parameter value is generated based on the monitoring of the transmission, and wherein generating the first parameter value comprises determining a token bucket size for the monitored transmission of data packets;

generating a second parameter value characterizing a second data transmission rate of data through the port for the monitored transmission, the second data transmission rate being averaged over a second duration of time, the second duration of time being shorter than the first duration of time, wherein generating the second parameter value comprise determining a token bucket rate for the monitored transmission of data packets; and

allocating outgoing data packets in said transmission from the server to at least one other port for transmission based on the first parameter value and the second parameter value, wherein allocating the data packets is accomplished within the server.

20. The article of claim 19, wherein allocating outgoing data packets comprise allocating data packets for transmission such that the rate at which data are transmitted through each of the multiple ports is lower than a predetermined upper bound.