End-to-end cache for network elements

摘要

A method in a network element includes processing input packets using a set of two or more functions that are defined over parameters of the input packets. Each function in the set produces respective interim actions applied to the input packets and the entire set produces respective end-to-end actions applied to the input packets. An end-to-end mapping, which maps the parameters of at least some of the input packets directly to the corresponding end-to-end actions, is cached in the network element. The end-to-end mapping is queried with the parameters of a new input packet. Upon finding the parameters of the new input packet in the end-to-end mapping, an end-to-end action mapped to the found parameters is applied to the new input packet, without processing the new input packet using the set of functions.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
providing network element including a set of two or more functions, each of the two or more functions stating a condition defined over parameters of the input packets and a respective action to be applied to input packets matching the condition such that each function in the set produces interim actions applied to the input packets and the entire set produces respective end-to-end actions applied to the input packets, wherein the functions in the set are cascaded such that the interim action of one function is used as input to another function; caching in the network element an end-to-end mapping; which maps the parameters of at least some of the input packets directly to corresponding end-to-end actions, which include the actions of the functions that match the respective input packets; receiving input packets by the network element; querying the end-to-end mapping with parameters of a new input packet, to determine whether an end-to-end action is included in the mapping for the new input packet; if the parameters of the new input packet are not found in the end-to-end mapping, applying the two or more functions to the new input packet to determine actions to be applied to the packet, and updating the end-to-end mapping with an end-to-end action produced from the actions determined to be applied to the new input packet; and if the parameters of the new input packet are found in the end-to-end mapping, applying to the new input packet the end-to-end action mapped to the parameters of the new input packet in the mapping, without applying the two or more functions to the new input packet, and updating data in the network element that would be updated if the new input packet were processed by the set of functions.