Network routing system for enhanced efficiency and monitoring capability
First Claim
1. A network device, comprising:
- a plurality of ports each configured to receive data packets or to transmit data packets from the network device;
one or more memories;
a plurality of integrated port controllers, each integrated port controller circuit configured to receive data packets from one or more ports from the plurality of ports and to forward data packets to one or more ports from the plurality of ports;
a backplane; and
an adapter coupled to the plurality of integrated port controllers and to the backplane;
wherein each integrated port controller is configured toreceive a data packet received by the network device via a port from the plurality of ports,determine forwarding information by performing one or more lookups in the one or more memories using information extracted from a header portion of the received packet, the forwarding information indicative of how the received data packet is to be forwarded in the network device, andforward the data packet and the forwarding information to the adapter coupled to the integrated port controller;
wherein the adapter is configured toreceive a data packet and forwarding information for the data packet from an integrated port controller from the plurality of integrated port controllers, andbased upon the forwarding information, forward the data packet received by the adapter from the integrated port controller either to another integrated port controller coupled to the adapter or to the backplane.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to an embodiment of the invention, a network device such as a router or switch provides efficient data packet handling capability. The network device includes one or more input ports for receiving data packets to be routed, as well as one or more output ports for transmitting data packets. The network device includes an integrated port controller integrated circuit for routing packets. The integrated circuit includes an interface circuit, a received packets circuit, a buffer manager circuit for receiving data packets from the received packets circuit and transmitting data packets in one or more buffers and reading data packets from the one or more buffers. The integrated circuit also includes a rate shaper counter for storing credit for a traffic class, so that the integrated circuit can support input and/or output rate shaping. The integrated circuit may be associated with an IRAM, a CAM, a parameter memory configured to hold routing and/or switching parameters, which may be implemented as a PRAM, and an aging RAM, which stores aging information. The aging information may be used by a CPU coupled to the integrated circuit via a system interface circuit to remove entries from the CAM and/or the PRAM when an age count exceeds an age limit threshold for the entries.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A network device, comprising:
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a plurality of ports each configured to receive data packets or to transmit data packets from the network device; one or more memories; a plurality of integrated port controllers, each integrated port controller circuit configured to receive data packets from one or more ports from the plurality of ports and to forward data packets to one or more ports from the plurality of ports; a backplane; and an adapter coupled to the plurality of integrated port controllers and to the backplane; wherein each integrated port controller is configured to receive a data packet received by the network device via a port from the plurality of ports, determine forwarding information by performing one or more lookups in the one or more memories using information extracted from a header portion of the received packet, the forwarding information indicative of how the received data packet is to be forwarded in the network device, and forward the data packet and the forwarding information to the adapter coupled to the integrated port controller; wherein the adapter is configured to receive a data packet and forwarding information for the data packet from an integrated port controller from the plurality of integrated port controllers, and based upon the forwarding information, forward the data packet received by the adapter from the integrated port controller either to another integrated port controller coupled to the adapter or to the backplane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method performed by a network device for processing data packets, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of data packets including a first data packet via a port of the network device; forwarding the first data packet to a first integrated port controller from a plurality of integrated port controllers in the network device; determining, at the first integrated port controller, forwarding information for the first data packet by performing one or more lookups in one or more memories coupled to the first integrated port controller using information extracted from a header portion of the first data packet, the forwarding information indicative of how the first data packet is to be forwarded in the network device; forwarding the first data packet and the forwarding information from the first integrated port controller to an adapter in the network device, the adapter coupled to the plurality of integrated port controllers; and based upon the forwarding information, forwarding the first data packet received by the adapter from the integrated port controller either to a second integrated port controller coupled to the adapter or to a backplane. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification