Switch fabric for network devices

摘要

In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a network device, including: an input port; an output port; a switch fabric including a primary fabric, an auxiliary fabric, and a controller; and a distributor configured to obtain, from the input port, a first data unit, provide the first data unit to the primary fabric, determine, after the first data unit is transmitted to the primary fabric, that the primary fabric is congested, send, in response to determining that the primary fabric is congested, a request to the controller to establish a data path through the auxiliary fabric, obtain, from the input port and after sending the request, a second data unit, provide the second data unit to the auxiliary fabric, where the auxiliary fabric transmits the second data unit to the aggregator through the data path in the auxiliary fabric.

主权项

1. A network device, comprising:
a switch fabric comprising a primary fabric, an auxiliary fabric, and a controller, the auxiliary fabric including an input memory bus, an output memory bus, and a memory bank; an aggregator; and a distributor, wherein the primary fabric and the auxiliary fabric are operable to transfer data units from the distributor to the aggregator, wherein the primary fabric and the auxiliary fabric have separate switching devices for transferring the data units, wherein the distributor is configured to:
obtain a first data unit from an input port;send the first data unit to the aggregator through the primary fabric, wherein the primary fabric transmits the first data unit through a first data path;determine if the primary fabric is congested;send, if the primary fabric is congested, a request to the controller to establish a second data path through the auxiliary fabric, wherein establishing the second data path includes:
designating a memory location in the memory bank;creating a first mapping between the input port and the memory location; andcreating a second mapping between an output port and the memory location;identify the memory location using the first mapping;transmit a second data unit over the input memory bus to the memory location, the memory bank configured to store the second data unit; andsend the second data unit to the aggregator through the auxiliary fabric when the second data path is established; wherein the controller is configured to establish, in response to the request, the second data path in the auxiliary fabric; and wherein the aggregator is further configured to:
obtain, using the output memory bus, the second data unit from the memory location;identify the output port corresponding to the memory location using the second mapping; andprovide the first data unit and the second data unit to the output port.