Port scheduling for a network device

摘要

A method and network device provides port scheduling for data ports in the network device. The network device may assign data ports of the network device into port groups according to port characteristics of the data ports. The network device may schedule processing time slots for active data ports by determining a selected port group based on group selection parameters. The network device may then determine a selected data port from the selected port group using port selection criteria. The port selection criteria may maintain minimum and maximum packet spacing requirements for the data ports of a port group. The network device may also maintain an active ports list to disqualify inactive data ports from selection.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
assigning, at scheduling circuitry, data ports of a network device to logical port groups based on a port speed of the data ports; storing a listing of logical port group assignments for the data ports; obtaining a selection criterion from memory; obtaining, at the scheduling circuitry, selection credit values for the logical port groups, the selection credit values and the selection criterion determining a future selection from the logical port groups; determining, through a group determination process, a selected logical port group from among the logical port groups by determining which of the selection credit values meets the selection criterion; and after determining the selected logical port group:
determining, through a port determination process separate from the group determination process, a selected data port within the selected logical port group;obtaining, from the listing of logical port group assignments, identifying information for the selected data port;allocating, at the scheduling circuitry, a processing time slot to the selected data port; andresponsive to allocating the processing time slot, adjusting a selection credit value for the selected logical port group against consecutive selection.