Multiple logical channels for use in network devices

• US 8,493,857 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2011
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kadambi, Shiri, Ambe, Shekhar, Kalkunte, Mohan, Relan, Sandeep, Christie, Allan, Elzur, Uri, Lund, Martin, Talayco, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): JAIN, RAJ K
• Application Number:
  US13/006,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20110110236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/66 Layer 2 routing, e.g. in Ethernet based MAN's
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/11 Identifying congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/16 in connection oriented networks, e.g. frame relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/18 End to end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2433 Allocation of priorities to traffic types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2441 relying on flow classification, e.g. using integrated services [IntServ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/266 Stopping or restarting the source, e.g. X-on or X-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/29 using a combination of thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/30 in combination with information about buffer occupancy at either end or at transit nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/33 using forward notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/50 Queue scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/6205 Arrangements for avoiding head of line blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/6215 Individual queue per QOS, rate or priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/6225 Fixed service order, e.g. Round Robin
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/205 Quality of Service based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/3018 Input queuing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/351 for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/50 : Overload detection or protection within a single switching element
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/508 : Head of Line Blocking Avoidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/90 : Buffering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 : in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A method for establishing a virtual channel between network devices is disclosed. In the case of a local network device establishing a virtual channel with a remote network device, a virtual channel request message is sent from the local network device to the remote network device. A virtual channel acknowledgement message and a remote capability list are received and a virtual channel resume message and a local capability list are sent. The virtual channel is then enabled. In the case of a remote network device establishing a virtual channel with a local network device, a virtual channel request message is received from a local network device by a remote network device. A virtual channel acknowledgement message and a remote capability list are sent and a virtual channel resume message and a local capability list are received. The virtual channel is then enabled.

Claims

1. A method for controlling flow between network devices, the method comprising:

receiving a flow message from at least one of a plurality of first network devices by a second network device, the flow message indicating congestion at the at least one first network device;

receiving an Ethernet frame by the second network device, wherein the Ethernet frame is interpreted as a pause frame if the second network device has not acknowledged an ability to establish a logical connection between network devices over a physical connection;

halting, by the second network device, transmission of selected packets associated with the flow message; and

continuing transmission, by the second network device, of packets not associated with the flow message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow message includes a flow identifier and halting further comprises suspending transmission of the selected packets associated with the flow identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow message identifies priority information of the packets, and halting further comprises suspending transmission of the selected packets associated with the priority information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one first network device comprises a switch and wherein the second network device is connected to the switch and transmits packets to the switch for forwarding to a plurality of network devices connected to the switch.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the flow message further includes a criterion for resuming transmission and wherein transmission of the selected packets associated with the flow message is resumed when the criterion for resuming transmission is satisfied.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the criterion is time duration for a selective halt.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein suspending transmission includes resuming transmission of the selected packets associated with the flow message when an indication is received that the congestion at the at least one first network device is reduced.

8. A network device comprising:

at least one processor operable to;

receive a flow message from a switch, wherein the flow message indicates congestion in at least one logical channel;

receive an Ethernet frame that is interpreted as a pause frame if the switch does not acknowledge an ability to establish a logical connection between network devices over a physical connection;

halt transmission of selected packets associated with the flow message; and

continue transmission of packets not associated with the flow message.

9. The network device of claim 8, wherein the flow message identifies priority information of the packets, and halting further comprises selectively excluding selected packets associated with the priority information.

10. The network device of claim 9, wherein the network device is a server.