Barefoot Networks, Inc.

Other

Jay E S Peterson

Patrick W Bosshart

Michael Gregory Ferrara

An algorithmic TCAM based ternary lookup method is provided. The method stores entries for ternary lookup into several sub-tables. All entries in each sub-table have a sub-table key that includes the same common portion of the entry. No two sub-tables are associated with the same sub-table key. The method stores the keys in a sub-table keys table in TCAM. Each key has a different priority. The method stores the entries for each sub-table in random access memory. Each entry in a sub-table has a different priority. The method receives a search request to perform a ternary lookup for an input data item. A ternary lookup into the ternary sub-table key table stored in TCAM is performed to retrieve a sub-table index. The method performs a ternary lookup across the entries of the sub-table associated with the retrieved index to identify the highest priority matched entry for the input data item.

Algorithmic TCAM based ternary lookup

A forwarding element includes data plane forwarding circuitry for forwarding data messages received by the forwarding element to other network elements in a network. The data-plane forwarding circuitry includes several snapshot-match circuitry units. Each snapshot-match circuitry unit compares a set of header fields of incoming data messages with a corresponding matching data. The data-plane forwarding circuitry also includes several snapshot-capture circuitry units. Each snapshot-capture circuitry units stores a set of header fields of data messages that matches a corresponding matching data.

Network forwarding element with data plane packet snapshotting capabilities

A method of detecting error in a data plane of a packet forwarding element that includes a plurality of physical ternary content-addressable memories (TCAMs) is provided. The method configures a first set of physical TCAMs into a first logical TCAM. The method configures a second set of physical TCAMs into a second logical TCAM. The second logical TCAM includes the same number of physical TCAMs as the first logical TCAM. The method programs the first and second logical TCAMs to store a same set of data. The method requests a search for a particular content from the first and second logical TCAMs. The method generates an error signal when the first and second logical TCAMs do not produce a same search results.

Data plane error detection for ternary content-addressable memory (TCAM) of a forwarding element

A hardware forwarding element is provided that includes a group of unit memories, a set of packet processing pipelines, and an error signal fabric. Each packet processing pipeline includes several of match action stages. Each match action stage includes a set of match action tables stored in a set of unit memories. Each unit memory is configured to detect an error in the unit memory and generate an error output when an error is detected in the memory unit. The error signal fabric, for each match action stage, combines error outputs of the unit memories storing match tables into a first bit in the error signal fabric. The error signal fabric, for each match action stage, combines error outputs of the unit memories storing action tables into a second bit in the error signal fabric.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Jay E S Peterson