Packet segmentation with different segment sizes for a switch fabric
First Claim
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1. A method of processing network packets, the method comprising:
- receiving a packet on a port of a network switching device;
segmenting the packet into a plurality of segments such that the last segment is longer than at least one other segment;
outputting at least one segment that is not the last segment to a switch fabric during a first epoch; and
outputting the last segment to the switch fabric during a second epoch different from the first epoch;
wherein an epoch is a length of time during which the network switching device maintains a given input port-to-output port configuration.
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Abstract
An epoch-based network processor internally segments packets for processing and aggregation in epoch payloads. FIFO buffers interact with a memory management unit to efficiently manage the segmentation and aggregation process.
27 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of processing network packets, the method comprising:
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receiving a packet on a port of a network switching device; segmenting the packet into a plurality of segments such that the last segment is longer than at least one other segment; outputting at least one segment that is not the last segment to a switch fabric during a first epoch; and outputting the last segment to the switch fabric during a second epoch different from the first epoch; wherein an epoch is a length of time during which the network switching device maintains a given input port-to-output port configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of processing network packets, the method comprising:
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receiving packets on at least some of ports of a network processing device; processing the packets; and transmitting at least some of the packets on at least some of the ports of the network processing device; wherein processing the packets comprises, for at least some packets that are to be transmitted, transferring the packets through a switch fabric of the network processing device to deliver the packets to one or more ports on which the packets are to be transmitted; wherein the switch fabric operates in epochs, each epoch corresponding to an input-port-to-output-port configuration of the network processing device; wherein processing the packets comprises segmenting at least some of the packets to be transferred through the switch fabric into a plurality of segments, wherein for each segmented packet, each segment of the packet is provided to the switch fabric in a single epoch which is or is not the same for all the segments of the packet, and for at least one segmented packet different segments of the packet are provided to the switch fabric in different epochs; wherein for at least a first packet which is one of the segmented packets, the last segment is longer than at least one other segment of the first packet. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A network processing device comprising:
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a plurality of ports for receiving and transmitting packets; and a processing module for processing of packets received on the ports; wherein the processing module comprises a switch fabric for transferring the packets to one or more ports on which the packets are to be transmitted; wherein the processing module is configured to operate the switch fabric in epochs, each epoch corresponding to an input-port-to-output-port configuration of the network processing device; wherein the processing module comprises segmenting logic for segmenting at least some packets to be transferred by the switch fabric, the processing module being operable to provide each segment of a segmented packet to the switch fabric in a single epoch which is or is not the same for all the segments of the segmented packet, the segmenting logic being operable to segment at least some packets into segments such that the last segment of the segmented packet is longer than at least one other segment of the segmented packet. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A line card for use in a network processing device, the line card comprising:
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a plurality of ports; a PHY device for receiving packets on one or more of the ports; an ingress traffic manager for obtaining at least some of the packets received by the PHY device and segmenting at least some of the packets into multiple segments such that at least the last segment of such a packet is longer than at least one other segment of the packet; an interface for connection to a switch fabric configured for transferring at least packets segmented by the ingress traffic manager to one or more ports of the network processing device on which the packets are to be transmitted by the network processing device, the switch fabric operating in epochs, each epoch corresponding to an input-port-to-output-port configuration of the network processing device; wherein the ingress traffic manager is operable to provide to the switch fabric, for the epoch, a plurality of segments of different packets for transfer by the switch fabric if the ingress traffic manager has obtained such segments. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification