Packet priority in a network processor

摘要

In a network processor, a “port-kind” identifier (ID) is assigned to each port. Parsing circuitry employs the port-kind ID to select the configuration information associate with a received packet. The port kind ID can also be stored at a data structure presented to software, along with a larger port number (indicating an interface and/or channel). Based on the port kind ID and extracted information about the packet, a backpressure ID is calculated for the packet. The backpressure ID is implemented to assign a priority to the packet, as well as determine whether a traffic threshold is exceeded, thereby enabling a backpressure signal to limit packet traffic associated with the particular backpressure ID.

主权项

1. A method of processing packets comprising:
receiving, from a network interface, a packet and a port identifier (ID), the port ID indicating a channel associated with the packet, the channel being a subset of communications at the network interface; comparing the port ID against entries in a table to determine instructions for processing the packet, the table storing a plurality of port IDs with corresponding instructions; determining a backpressure ID based on the port ID and information regarding the packet; incrementing a resource counter corresponding to the backpressure ID; and in response to detecting the resource counter reaching a threshold, sending a control signal to the network interface to limit operation of the channel; assigning a priority to the packet based on the backpressure ID.