公开(公告)号：US6088356A

公开(公告)日：2000-07-11

申请号：US884244

申请日：1997-06-30

申请人： Ariel Hendel ,  Leo A. Hejza ,  Shree Murthy ,  Louise Yeung

发明人： Ariel Hendel ,  Leo A. Hejza ,  Shree Murthy ,  Louise Yeung

IPC分类号： H04L12/46 ,  H04L12/56

CPC分类号： H04L49/602 ,  H04L49/205 ,  H04L49/3009 ,  H04L49/351

摘要： A multi-layer network element for forwarding received packets from an input port to one or more output ports. The packet is examined to look for first and second forwarding information. A packet is also assigned to a class and provided with default packet forwarding information. An associative memory is searched once for each type of information. The results from the two searches are combined with the default packet forwarding information to forward the packet to the appropriate one or more output ports. In some instances, the results of the first search dominate the forwarding decision, in other, the results of the second search dominate the forwarding decision, and in still other instances, the default information dominates.

摘要翻译： 一种用于将接收的分组从输入端口转发到一个或多个输出端口的多层网元。 检查数据包以查找第一和第二转发信息。 分组也被分配给一个类，并提供了默认的分组转发信息。 对于每种类型的信息搜索一次联想记忆。 将两次搜索的结果与默认分组转发信息相结合，将分组转发到适当的一个或多个输出端口。 在某些情况下，首次搜索的结果主导转发决策，另一方面，第二次搜索的结果主导转发决策，而在其他情况下，默认信息占主导地位。

公开(公告)号：US5909686A

公开(公告)日：1999-06-01

申请号：US885047

申请日：1997-06-30

申请人： Shimon Muller ,  Ariel Hendel ,  Louise Yeung ,  Leo Hejza ,  Shree Murthy

发明人： Shimon Muller ,  Ariel Hendel ,  Louise Yeung ,  Leo Hejza ,  Shree Murthy

IPC分类号： G06F17/30 ,  H04L12/56

CPC分类号： H04L49/3009 ,  G06F17/30557 ,  H04L49/254 ,  Y10S707/99931 ,  Y10S707/99945 ,  Y10S707/99948

摘要： A method and apparatus for providing hardware-assisted CPU access to a forwarding database is described. According to one aspect of the present invention, a switch fabric provides access to a forwarding database on behalf of a processor. The switch fabric includes a memory access interface configured to arbitrate access to a forwarding database memory. The switch fabric also includes a search engine coupled to the memory access interface and to multiple input ports. The search engine is configured to schedule and perform accesses to the forwarding database memory and to transfer forwarding decisions retrieved therefrom to the input ports. The switch fabric further includes command execution logic that is configured to interface with the processor for performing forwarding database accesses requested by the processor. According to another aspect of the invention one or more commands are provided to implement the following functions: (1) learning a supplied address; (2) reading associated data corresponding to a supplied search key; (3) aging forwarding database entries; (4) invalidating entries; (5) accessing mask data, such as mask data that may be stored in a mask per bit (MPB) content addressable memory (CAM), corresponding to a particular search key; (6) replacing forwarding database entries; and (7) accessing entries in the forwarding database.

摘要翻译： 描述了一种用于向转发数据库提供硬件辅助CPU访问的方法和装置。 根据本发明的一个方面，交换结构代表处理器提供对转发数据库的访问。 交换结构包括被配置为仲裁对转发数据库存储器的访问的存储器访问接口。 交换结构还包括耦合到存储器访问接口和多个输入端口的搜索引擎。 搜索引擎被配置为调度和执行对转发数据库存储器的访问，并将从其检索的转发决定传送到输入端口。 交换结构还包括命令执行逻辑，其被配置为与处理器接口以执行由处理器请求的转发数据库访问。 根据本发明的另一方面，提供一个或多个命令以实现以下功能：（1）学习所提供的地址; （2）读取与提供的搜索关键字对应的关联数据; （3）老化转发数据库条目; （4）使条目无效; （5）访问对应于特定搜索关键字的掩码数据，例如可能存储在每位掩码（MPB）内容可寻址存储器（CAM））中的掩码数据; （6）替换转发数据库条目; 和（7）访问转发数据库中的条目。

公开(公告)号：US6128666A

公开(公告)日：2000-10-03

申请号：US885000

申请日：1997-06-30

申请人： Shimon Muller ,  Louise Yeung ,  Ariel Hendel

发明人： Shimon Muller ,  Louise Yeung ,  Ariel Hendel

IPC分类号： H04L12/46 ,  H04L12/56 ,  H04L29/06 ,  H04J3/24 ,  G06F13/00 ,  H04J15/00

CPC分类号： H04L12/46 ,  H04L12/4645 ,  H04L12/467 ,  H04L49/103 ,  H04L69/22 ,  H04L49/3009 ,  H04L49/3036 ,  H04L49/354 ,  H04L49/602

摘要： A system and method for updating packet headers using hardware that maintains the high performance of the network element. In one embodiment, the system includes an input port process (IPP) that buffers the input packet received and forwards header information to the search engine. The search engine searches a database maintained on the switch element to determine the type of the packet. In one embodiment, the type may indicate whether the packet can be routed in hardware. In another embodiment, the type may indicate whether the packet supports VLANs. The search engine sends the packet type information to the IPP along with the destination address (DA) to be updated if the packet is to be routed, or a VLAN tag if the packet has been identified to be forwarded to a particular VLAN. The IPP, during transmission of the packet to a packet memory selectively replaces the corresponding fields, e.g., DA field or VLAN tag field; the modified packet is stored in the packet memory. Associated with the packet memory are control fields containing control field information conveyed to the packet memory by the IPP. An output port process (OPP) reads the modified input packet and the control field information and selectively performs additional modifications to the modified input packet and issue control signals to the output interface (i.e., MAC). The MAC, based upon the control signals, replaces the source address field with the address of the MAC and generates a CRC that is appended to the end of the packet.

摘要翻译： 一种用于使用维持网络元件的高性能的硬件来更新分组报头的系统和方法。 在一个实施例中，该系统包括缓冲所接收的输入分组的输入端口处理（IPP），并将头部信息转发到搜索引擎。 搜索引擎搜索在switch元素上维护的数据库以确定数据包的类型。 在一个实施例中，该类型可以指示分组是否可以在硬件中路由。 在另一个实施例中，该类型可以指示分组是否支持VLAN。 搜索引擎将分组类型信息与要进行路由的分组要更新的目标地址（DA）一起发送到IPP，如果分组已被标识为转发到特定VLAN，则将其发送到VLAN标签。 在将分组传输到分组存储器期间，IPP选择性地替换相应的字段，例如DA字段或VLAN标签字段; 修改的分组被存储在分组存储器中。 与分组存储器相关联的是包含由IPP传送到分组存储器的控制字段信息的控制字段。 输出端口处理（OPP）读取修改的输入分组和控制字段信息，并且选择性地对修改的输入分组执行附加修改，并向输出接口（即MAC）发出控制信号。 MAC基于控制信号，将源地址字段替换为MAC的地址，并生成附加到数据包末尾的CRC。

公开(公告)号：US5920566A

公开(公告)日：1999-07-06

申请号：US885114

申请日：1997-06-30

申请人： Ariel Hendel ,  Shimon Muller ,  William T. Zaumen ,  Louise Yeung

发明人： Ariel Hendel ,  Shimon Muller ,  William T. Zaumen ,  Louise Yeung

IPC分类号： H04L12/18 ,  H04L12/46 ,  H04L12/56 ,  H04J3/02

CPC分类号： H04L12/18 ,  H04L12/4645 ,  H04L45/00 ,  H04L45/60 ,  H04L49/602

摘要： A multi-layer distributed network element for relaying packets according to known routing protocols. A distributed architecture of multiple subsystems delivers routing at wire-speed performance across subnetworks. Each subsystem includes a forwarding memory and an associated memory and is configured to identify unicast and multicast packets for routing purposes, modify the packets in hardware, including replace VLAN information, and forward the packets to the next hop. The routing decisions are made in the inbound subsystem, and packets are forwarded, if necessary given the network topology, through a separate outbound subsystem.

摘要翻译： 一种用于根据已知路由协议中继分组的多层分布式网元。 多个子系统的分布式架构通过子网提供线速性能的路由。 每个子系统包括转发存储器和相关联的存储器，并且被配置为识别用于路由目的的单播和多播分组，在硬件中修改分组，包括替换VLAN信息，并将分组转发到下一跳。 在入站子系统中进行路由决策，如果需要，通过单独的出站子系统转发数据包。

公开(公告)号：US5938736A

公开(公告)日：1999-08-17

申请号：US885116

申请日：1997-06-30

申请人： Shimon Muller ,  Ariel Hendel ,  Louise Yeung

发明人： Shimon Muller ,  Ariel Hendel ,  Louise Yeung

IPC分类号： G06F17/30 ,  H04L12/56 ,  H04L29/06 ,  G06F13/38 ,  G06F15/17

CPC分类号： H04L49/602 ,  H04L29/06 ,  H04L45/7453 ,  H04L49/201 ,  H04L49/205 ,  H04L49/3009 ,  H04L49/351 ,  H04L69/22

摘要： A multi-layer switch search engine architecture is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, a switch fabric includes a search engine, and a packet header processing unit. The search engine may be coupled to a forwarding database memory and one or more input ports. The search engine is configured to schedule and perform accesses to the forwarding database memory and to transfer forwarding decisions to the one or more input ports. The header processing unit is coupled to the search engine and includes an arbitrated interface for coupling to the one or more input ports. The header processing unit is configured to receive a packet header from one or more of the input ports and is further configured to construct a search key for accessing the forwarding database memory based upon a predetermined portion of the packet header. The predetermined portion of the packet header is selected based upon a packet class with which the packet header is associated.

摘要翻译： 提供了多层交换机搜索引擎架构。 根据本发明的一个方面，交换结构包括搜索引擎和分组报头处理单元。 搜索引擎可以耦合到转发数据库存储器和一个或多个输入端口。 搜索引擎被配置为调度和执行对转发数据库存储器的访问并且将转发决定传送到一个或多个输入端口。 报头处理单元耦合到搜索引擎并且包括用于耦合到一个或多个输入端口的仲裁接口。 报头处理单元被配置为从一个或多个输入端口接收分组报头，并且还被配置为基于分组报头的预定部分构建用于访问转发数据库存储器的搜索关键字。 基于与分组报头相关联的分组类别来选择分组报头的预定部分。

公开(公告)号：US6014380A

公开(公告)日：2000-01-11

申请号：US885257

申请日：1997-06-30

申请人： Ariel Hendel ,  Shimon Muller ,  Louise Yeung

发明人： Ariel Hendel ,  Shimon Muller ,  Louise Yeung

IPC分类号： H04L12/56 ,  H04L29/06

CPC分类号： H04L29/06 ,  H04L49/3009 ,  H04L49/25 ,  H04L49/351 ,  H04L49/354 ,  H04L69/22

摘要： A multi-layer distributed network element for relaying packets according to known routing protocols. A distributed architecture of multiple subsystems delivers routing at wire-speed performance across subnetworks. Each subsystem includes a forwarding memory and an associated memory and is configured to identify unicast and multicast packets for routing purposes, modify the packets in hardware, including replace VLAN information, and forward the packets to the next hop. The routing decisions are made in the inbound subsystem, and packets and associated control information are forwarded, if necessary given the network topology, through a separate outbound subsystem. When packets traverse the internal links from one subsystem to another, encapsulation operations are conducted such as appending an additional cyclic redundancy code (CRC) to the packet before going through the internal link.

摘要翻译： 一种用于根据已知路由协议中继分组的多层分布式网元。 多个子系统的分布式架构通过子网提供线速性能的路由。 每个子系统包括转发存储器和相关联的存储器，并且被配置为识别用于路由目的的单播和多播分组，在硬件中修改分组，包括替换VLAN信息，并将分组转发到下一跳。 在入站子系统中进行路由决策，如果需要，通过单独的出站子系统转发数据包和相关控制信息。 当数据包穿过从一个子系统到另一个子系统的内部链路时，进行封装操作，例如在通过内部链路之前将附加的循环冗余码（CRC）附加到数据包。

公开(公告)号：US08306040B2

公开(公告)日：2012-11-06

申请号：US12477124

申请日：2009-06-02

申请人： Sachin Desai ,  Tim Millet ,  Zahid Hussain ,  Paul Kim ,  Louise Yeung ,  Ken Yeung

发明人： Sachin Desai ,  Tim Millet ,  Zahid Hussain ,  Paul Kim ,  Louise Yeung ,  Ken Yeung

IPC分类号： H04L12/26

CPC分类号： H04L47/22 ,  H04L12/4625 ,  H04L47/10 ,  H04L47/2441 ,  H04L47/2491 ,  H04L49/254 ,  H04L49/30 ,  H04L49/65

摘要： Methods and systems are provided for steering network packets. According to one embodiment a method is provided for steering incoming network packets. Each network packet processing resource of a network routing/switching device is dynamically assigned to one or more network interfaces of the network routing/switching device. Each of the network packet processing resources includes one or more processing elements and a memory. Incoming network packets received by the network interfaces are steered to an appropriate network packet processing resource based on the dynamic assignment.

摘要翻译： 提供了用于转向网络数据包的方法和系统。 根据一个实施例，提供了一种用于控制传入网络分组的方法。 网络路由/交换设备的每个网络分组处理资源被动态分配给网络路由/交换设备的一个或多个网络接口。 每个网络分组处理资源包括一个或多个处理元件和存储器。 基于动态分配，由网络接口​​接收的传入网络分组被引导到适当的网络分组处理资源。

公开(公告)号：US20120069850A1

公开(公告)日：2012-03-22

申请号：US13305804

申请日：2011-11-29

申请人： Sachin Desai ,  Tim Millet ,  Zahid Hussain ,  Paul Kim ,  Louise Yeung ,  Ken Yeung

发明人： Sachin Desai ,  Tim Millet ,  Zahid Hussain ,  Paul Kim ,  Louise Yeung ,  Ken Yeung

IPC分类号： H04L12/56

CPC分类号： H04L47/22 ,  H04L12/4625 ,  H04L47/10 ,  H04L47/2441 ,  H04L47/2491 ,  H04L49/254 ,  H04L49/30 ,  H04L49/65

摘要： Methods and systems are provided for steering network packets. According to one embodiment, a dynamically configurable steering table is stored within a memory of each network interface of a networking routing/switching device. The steering table represents a mapping that logically assigns each of the network interfaces to one of multiple packet processing resources of the network routing/switching device. The steering table has contained therein information indicative of a unique identifier/address of the assigned packet processing resource. Responsive to receiving a packet on a network interface, the network interface performs Layer 1 or Layer 2 steering of the received packet to the assigned packet processing resource by retrieving the information indicative of the unique identifier/address of the assigned packet processing resource from the steering table based on a channel identifier associated with the received packet and the received packet is processed by the assigned packet processing resource.

摘要翻译： 提供了用于转向网络数据包的方法和系统。 根据一个实施例，可动态配置的转向表被存储在网络路由/交换设备的每个网络接口的存储器内。 转向表表示将每个网络接口逻辑地分配给网络路由/交换设备的多个分组处理资源之一的映射。 转向表中包含指示所分配的分组处理资源的唯一标识符/地址的信息。 响应于在网络接口上接收分组，网络接口通过从转向器中检索指示所分配的分组处理资源的唯一标识符/地址的信息来执行所接收分组的层1或层2转向所分配的分组处理资源 基于与接收到的分组相关联的信道标识符和接收到的分组的表由分配的分组处理资源处理。

公开(公告)号：US20070147368A1

公开(公告)日：2007-06-28

申请号：US11684614

申请日：2007-03-10

申请人： Sachin Desai ,  Tim Millet ,  Zahid Hussain ,  Paul Kim ,  Louise Yeung ,  Ken Yeung

发明人： Sachin Desai ,  Tim Millet ,  Zahid Hussain ,  Paul Kim ,  Louise Yeung ,  Ken Yeung

IPC分类号： H04L12/56

CPC分类号： H04L47/22 ,  H04L12/4625 ,  H04L47/10 ,  H04L47/2441 ,  H04L47/2491 ,  H04L49/254 ,  H04L49/30 ,  H04L49/65

摘要： Methods and systems are provided for steering network packets. According to one embodiment, a mapping associates a processing resource with a network interface module (netmod) and/or a number of line interface ports included within the netmod. In one embodiment, the mapping is configurable within the processing resource and pushed to the netmod. The netmod uses the mapping to steer network packets to the processing resource when the packets conform to the mapping. The mapping may be additionally used to identify a specific process that is to be performed against the packets once the processing resource receives the steered packets from the netmod.

摘要翻译： 提供了用于转向网络数据包的方法和系统。 根据一个实施例，映射将处理资源与网络接口模块（netmod）和/或包括在netmod内的多个线路接口端口相关联。 在一个实施例中，映射可在处理资源内配置并被推送到netmod。 当数据包符合映射时，netmod使用映射来将网络数据包引导到处理资源。 一旦处理资源接收到来自netmod的转向分组，该映射可以另外用于标识将针对分组执行的特定进程。

公开(公告)号：US07203192B2

公开(公告)日：2007-04-10

申请号：US10163261

申请日：2002-06-04

申请人： Sachin Desai ,  Tim Millet ,  Zahid Hussain ,  Paul Kim ,  Louise Yeung ,  Ken Yeung

发明人： Sachin Desai ,  Tim Millet ,  Zahid Hussain ,  Paul Kim ,  Louise Yeung ,  Ken Yeung

IPC分类号： H04L12/54 ,  H04J3/16 ,  H04J3/22

CPC分类号： H04L47/22 ,  H04L12/4625 ,  H04L47/10 ,  H04L47/2441 ,  H04L47/2491 ,  H04L49/254 ,  H04L49/30 ,  H04L49/65

摘要： Methods and Systems are provided for steering network packets and bridging media channels to a single processing resource. A mapping associates a processing resource with a network interface module (Netmod) or a number of line interface ports included within the Netmod. In one embodiment, the mapping is configurable within the processing resource and pushed to the Netmod. The Netmod uses the mapping to steer network packets to the processing resource when the packets conform to the mapping. Moreover, the mapping can be used to identify a specific process that is to be performed against the packets once the processing resource receives the steered packets from the Netmod.

摘要翻译： 提供方法和系统用于将网络分组和桥接媒体信道转向单个处理资源。 映射将处理资源与网络接口模块（Netmod）或Netmod中包含的多个线路接口端口相关联。 在一个实施例中，映射可在处理资源内配置并被推送到Netmod。 当数据包符合映射时，Netmod会使用映射来将网络数据包引导到处理资源。 此外，一旦处理资源从Netmod接收到转向的分组，该映射可用于识别针对分组执行的特定进程。