Nortel Networks Corporation

Dell Products Inc.

Advanced Micro Devices Corporation

James Lawrence Mangin

Mohan V Kalkunte

Ian S Crayford

Derek H Pitcher

Vinay Sawal

Vivek Dharmadhikari

Russell K Mukai

Shashank C Merchant

Jayant Kadambi

Kishore K Seshadri

Jeanne Haney

Sanjay Munshi

Brian Brown

A switch includes a PCI bus. A line card processor is coupled to a line card memory system and includes a line card processor port connected to the PCI bus. A management processor is coupled to a management memory system and includes a management processor port connected to the PCI bus and associated with a register. The management processor retrieves an OS image and stores the OS image in the management memory system. The management processor then configures the register with a mapping between the management memory system and the line card memory system. The management processor then provides a write instruction to write the OS image to an address range included in the management memory system, and the management processor port converts the write instruction using the address mapping such that the OS image is written over the PCI bus to the line card memory system.

Multi-processor startup system

A method for preserving flow order is presented, the method comprising receiving up to a plurality of indications denoting commencement of frame transmission on a corresponding plurality of communication links, identifying that one or more of the received frames denote the start of a flow condition, and dedicating a receive buffer from a plurality of receive buffers to receive all frames associated with the identified flow condition.

Method and apparatus for preserving flow order across links of a multi link trunk

A method for preserving frame order across an aggregated link comprised of a plurality of virtual links each supporting a particular transmission rate is presented comprising receiving up to a plurality of indications denoting commencement of frame transmission on each of the virtual links, and assigning a plurality of pointer values to a corresponding plurality of records in a pointer value buffer associated with each of the virtual links based, at least in part, on the relative order in which data frames are transmitted on each of the virtual links.

Method and apparatus for preserving frame ordering across aggregated links supporting a plurality of transmission rates

A method for preserving frame order of a plurality of frames transmitted over a plurality of communication links is presented. In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the method includes receiving up to a plurality of indications denoting commencement of frame transmission on a corresponding plurality of communication links, and assigning a pointer value to a record in a buffer for each of said frames based, at least in part, on a relative order in which the indications are received.

Method and apparatus for preserving frame ordering across aggregated links between source and destination nodes

A method for preserving frame order across an aggregated link comprising receiving up to a plurality of indications denoting commencement of frame transmission on each of a plurality of virtual links each associated with a particular quality of service level comprising the aggregated link, and assigning a plurality of pointer values to a corresponding plurality of records in an appropriate ones of a plurality of pointer value buffers associated with the corresponding plurality of virtual links based, at least in part, on the relative order in which data frames are transmitted on each of the links.

Method and apparatus for preserving frame ordering across aggregated links supporting a plurality of quality of service levels

A method and a system for improving communication performance between nodes in a network is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes routers, switches, and a communication interface. The communication interface detects a communication flow between a source and a destination in response to a flow criteria. Upon detecting the communication flow, the communication interface issues a resolution request for identifying data path. After receipt of a response to the resolution request, multiple connections between switches are established in response to levels of quality of service (QoS).

Flow detection scheme to support QoS flows between source and destination nodes

A technique for dynamically adjusting the aging time of a shortcut virtual circuit connection (VCC) in a Multi-protocol over ATM (MPOA) client based on one or more factors. In one embodiment, a method of dynamically adjusting aging time of a shortcut VCC includes detecting a packet flow between a source and a destination, establishing a shortcut VCC between the source and destination, and adjusting an aging time of the shortcut VCC in response to the number of VCCs available by the MPOA client. In other embodiment, the aging time is dynamically adjusted based on the VCC threshold level, the protocol of the flow, and/or the application type of the flow.

Method and apparatus for providing efficient management of resources in a multi-protocol over ATM (MPOA)

A flow of information over a network is controlled by a policing function placed at a data link layer of the network. For a full-duplex architecture, an accumulated count value for each packet of information received as input by a switching device is ascertained during a predetermined interval. The policing function at a data link layer determines if the accumulated count value has exceeded an interval bit rate based on a transmission rate set by a traffic contract at a networking layer higher than the data link layer. In response to the accumulated count value exceeding the interval bit rate, the switching device sends a PAUSE frame to halt transmission of the information. The half-duplex architecture, collision based backpressure and carrier-sense backpressure techniques are used by the policing function for enforcement of the traffic contracts.

Switching device and method for traffic policing over a network

A method and apparatus for reducing the amount of control plane processing and flow detection required in a Multiprotocol Over ATM (MPOA) system are provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, flow detection processing may be altered based upon a packet's content. A first MPOA client (MPC) may include a plurality of flow detection mechanisms including standard MPOA processing and modified flow detection processing. For example, a flow may be determined to exist when the number of packets to a particular destination within a predetermined time interval exceeds a threshold value. Alternatively, a flow may be determined to exist immediately for certain types of traffic and detection of a flow may be suppressed for other types of traffic. Upon receipt at a first MPC, traffic may be classified based upon any information contained within a packet, including the header, the payload, or portions and/or combinations thereof. Based upon the packet's content, the MPC then selects among the plurality of flow detection mechanisms for purposes of determining whether or not a flow exists. According to another aspect of the present invention, control plane processing may be managed based upon a packet's content. A first MPC determines whether or not a stream of data with which a packet is associated justifies establishing a shortcut between the first MPC and the MPC with which the target is associated. After determining that the shortcut is justified, the first MPC allows or disallows the transmission of a resolution request based upon the packet's content.

Optimizing flow detection and reducing control plane processing in a multi-protocol over ATM (MPOA) system

Apparatus and method for more precise controlling of congestion on a network, provides for remote controlling of a remote station on the network by a local station to configure the remote station into a remote loopback configuration. With the remote station thus configured, the local station is then able to determine the link latency of the link, during auto-negotiation, for example. Provided with the link latency, a congestion control algorithm in the local station may be adjusted to account for the link latency to better control the input data streams by controlling when the congestion relieving control signal, such as a PAUSE frame, is transmitted to the remote station to inhibit transmission and relieve congestion.

Growing community of inventors

San Ramon, CA, United States of America

James Lawrence Mangin