Cisco Technology, Inc.

Broadcom Corporation

Ofer Iny

Aviran Kadosh

Eyal Michel Dagan

Nadav Tsvi Chachmon

Golan Schzukin

Eyal Dagan

Aviram Yeruchami

In one embodiment, quasi-Output Queue behavior of a packet switching device is achieved using virtual output queue (VOQ) ordering independently determined for each particular output queue (OQ), including using maintained latency information of the VOQs of the particular OQ. In one embodiment, all packets from all VOQs with a same port-priority destination experience similar latency within specific time-window, which is similar to the packet service provided by an Output Queue switch architecture. In one embodiment, all input ports that send traffic to same output port-priority receive bandwidth which is proportional to their bandwidth demand divided by total bandwidth. Prior approaches that emulate the performance of an OQ switch architecture require complex and time-consuming scheduling determinations and do not scale. Independently determining the order for sending packets from the VOQs associated with each particular OQ provides a scalable and implementable system with quasi-Output Queue behavior.

Quasi-output queue behavior of a packet switching device achieved using virtual output queue ordering independently determined for each output queue

In one embodiment, a load balancing method may comprise: assigning a plurality of packets of a flow to a plurality of segments according to a segmentation criterion, each segment including one or more packets of said plurality of packets, and at least one of the plurality of segments including more than one packet of the plurality of packets; tagging each packet of the plurality of packets with a segment sequence identifier to indicate to which segment the packet is assigned; and arranging the plurality of packets for transmission via an interconnect so that all packets belonging to a same segment will be transmitted via a same path.

Network traffic load balancing

Techniques for flow rate based load balancing are described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a packet associated with a packet flow at an ingress top-of-rack switch in a spine-leaf network. The method includes determining identification information for the packet flow, including a source and a destination. Based on the identification information, the method includes determining an instantaneous flow rate for a first path through the network from the source to the destination. The method also includes comparing the instantaneous flow rate to an average flow rate. Based on the comparison between the instantaneous flow rate to the average flow rate, the method includes assigning the packet flow to one of the first path or a second path.

Flow rate based network load balancing

In one embodiment, a network node comprising: a memory, including one or more memory entries associated with a meter; a sensor adapted to detect a discrepancy between an allocated bandwidth allocated to the meter and a data bandwidth measured by the meter, the allocated bandwidth being a portion of a total allocated bandwidth allocated to a plurality of meters, and the discrepancy being that the allocated bandwidth compared to the data bandwidth is one of: excessive or insufficient; and a generator, wherein the generator is adapted, upon the sensor detecting that the allocated bandwidth is excessive, to generate a message indicative of at least part of the allocated bandwidth being released from the meter, and wherein the generator is further adapted, upon the sensor detecting that the allocated bandwidth is insufficient, to generate a message indicative of a request for an allocation of additional bandwidth to the meter.

Distributed meters and statistical meters

A method and apparatus for more efficient routing of packets in a network is provided. The apparatus may include dynamic routing of packets or portions of packets which avoids congestion and blocking by making local decisions within the network. The apparatus may further include creating and updating routing tables which map switch outputs to available network output ports. Additionally the header of packets entering the network are processed prior to entry or as part of the entry to the network to produce a processed packet. The processed packets or portions of packets preferably include complete route information or a final destination address that enables rapid routing through the network without further processing of the packet header. One or more aspects of the inventions may be implemented in combination with other aspects of the invention to further improve network efficiency.

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Tel Aviv, Israel

Ofer Iny