Intel Corporation

Lsi Corporation

Ritchie J Peachey

Joseph A Manzella

William G Burroughs

Deepak Mital

Nilesh S Vora

An network processor is described that is configured to multicast multiple data packets to one or more engines. In one or more implementations, the network processor includes an input/output adapter configured to parse a plurality of tasks. The input/output adapter includes a multicast module configured to determine a reference count value based upon a maximum multicast value of the plurality of tasks. The input/output adapter is also configured to set a reference count decrement value within the control data portion of the plurality of tasks. The reference count decrement value is based upon the maximum multicast value. The input/output adapter is also configured to decrement the reference count value by a corresponding reference count decrement value upon receiving an indication from an engine.

Network processor having multicasting protocol

An apparatus for supporting multicast address learning in a network processor includes a task parameter decoder receiving the packet and determining parameters of the packet, a plurality of unlearned address counters recording a number of the packets to be multicast, a correlator determining destination addresses of the packet, a multicast replicator replicating the packet multiple times, and a task generator generating a generated packet with a bitmap and sending out the generated packet to an I/O adaptor over a task ring interface of the network processor. If the packet is unlearned, the unlearned address counter is then incremented and the unlearned packet is sent back to a special queue in the I/O adaptor over the task ring interface with an index to the bitmap for replicating by the multicast replicator, after replicating, the unlearned address counter is decremented. Methods for replicating unlearned/learned multicast packets within a network processor are included.

Growing community of inventors

Whitehall, PA, United States of America

Ritchie J Peachey