Switch fabric with collector-based cell reordering

摘要

A network device of a communication network is configured to implement a switch fabric that includes collector-based cell reordering functionality. In one embodiment, the switch fabric comprises a plurality of distributors, a plurality of routing elements each having inputs coupled to respective outputs of multiple ones of the distributors, and a plurality of collectors each having inputs coupled to respective outputs of multiple ones of the routing elements. At least a given one of the collectors comprises a sorting circuit configured to reorder streams of cells received from respective ones of the routing elements into a single reordered stream of cells utilizing a merge sort.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a switch fabric; the switch fabric comprising:
a plurality of distributors;a plurality of routing elements each having inputs coupled to respective outputs of multiple ones of the distributors; anda plurality of collectors each having inputs coupled to respective outputs of multiple ones of the routing elements; wherein at least a given one of the collectors comprises a sorting circuit configured to reorder streams of cells received from respective ones of the routing elements into a single reordered stream of cells utilizing a merge sort; and wherein the sorting circuit comprises:
a plurality of arrival queues each configured to receive a corresponding stream of cells from one of the routing elements;a sorting tree configured to reorder the cells in the streams of cells received by the respective arrival queues into the single reordered stream of cells; anda reassembly queue configured to store the single reordered stream of cells for subsequent reassembly into packets.