STATELESS NETWORK FUNCTIONS

摘要

Systems and methods are described for stateless network function virtualization. Embodiments operate in context of a data network, in which network middleboxes are virtualized, for example, for added scalability and fault tolerance. The virtualized middleboxes can implement state-reliant network functions in a manner that decouples the state from the packet processing pipeline, while maintaining reliability and throughput even at very high data rates. Various embodiments include novel packet processing pipeline architectures, novel thread coordination structures (e.g., including batching and buffer pool sub-structures), novel remote state data store structures, and/or other novel features.

主权项

1. A stateless network middlebox system comprising:
a thread coordination subsystem comprising:
a plurality of state request inputs;a coordinated request output; anda coordinated reply input; and a plurality of parallel threads, each associated with a state-reliant network function, and each having:
a thread input;a state request output responsive to the thread input and coupled with a respective one of the state request inputs;a state data input responsive to the coordinated reply input; anda thread output responsive to application of the thread input and the state response input to the associated state-reliant network function, wherein the coordinated reply input is responsive to state data received from a remote state data store in response to the coordinated request output, and the coordinated request output is generated as a coordinated batching of the state request inputs.