External memory management in a network device

摘要

In a method for storing packets in a network device, a memory space spanning a plurality of external memory devices is partitioned into a plurality of multi-buffers. Each multi-buffer spans multiple memory devices in the plurality of external memory devices. Each multi-buffer is partitioned into a plurality of buffer chunks and the plurality of buffer chunks are distributed among the multiple memory devices Further, a packet is divided into one or more packet chunks including at least a first packet chunk. The one or more packet chunks are stored in one or more consecutive buffer chunks of at least a first multi-buffer of the plurality of multi-buffers.

主权项

1. A method for storing packets in a network device, the method comprising:
partitioning a memory space spanning a plurality of external memory devices into a plurality of multi-buffers, wherein each multi-buffer spans multiple memory devices in the plurality of external memory devices; partitioning each multi-buffer into a plurality of buffer chunks, wherein the plurality of buffer chunks are distributed among the multiple memory devices; determining a target queue for a packet, the target queue from among a plurality of target queues associated with a plurality of ports of the network device; selecting, from the plurality of multi-buffers, the first multi-buffer for storing the packet based on the determined target queue; dividing the packet into one or more packet chunks including at least a first packet chunk; and storing the one or more packet chunks in one or more consecutive buffer chunks of at least a first multi-buffer of the plurality of multi-buffers.