Credit-based flow control in lossless ethernet networks

摘要

In one embodiment, a system includes a hardware processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor or media access control (MAC) functionality of a network port, the logic being adapted to initialize a link between a receiving endpoint and a sending endpoint, the receiving and sending endpoints being connected in a network fabric, wherein at least one virtual link is created within the link, receive an amount of available flow credits from the receiving endpoint, wherein the amount of available flow credits are used to determine a capacity to process packets at the receiving endpoint, and transmit one or more packets to the receiving endpoint until all packets are sent or the amount of available flow credits is insufficient to process additional packets, wherein exchange of flow credits is performed on a per virtual link basis.

主权项

1. A system, comprising:
a hardware processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor or media access control (MAC) functionality of a network port, the logic being configured to:
initialize a link between a receiving endpoint and a sending endpoint, the receiving and sending endpoints being connected in a network fabric, wherein at least one virtual link is created within the link;negotiate a credit aging duration during initialization of the link, wherein the credit aging duration is determined at least partially based on a speed of the link between the receiving endpoint and the sending endpoint;receive an amount of available flow credits from the receiving endpoint, wherein the amount of available flow credits are used to determine a capacity to process packets at the receiving endpoint;transmit one or more packets to the receiving endpoint until all packets are sent or the amount of available flow credits is insufficient to process additional packets; andexpire unused flow credits from the amount of available flow credits as an age of the unused flow credits reaches the credit aging duration,wherein the receiving endpoint and the sending endpoint each track an age of flow credits using a local clock or a synchronized clock, andwherein exchange of flow credits is performed on a per virtual link basis.