Netapp, Inc.

Mayan Networks Corporation

Ryan Herbst

James Cihla

Rahim Ibrahim

Yoichi Hariguchi

Thomas A Herbert

James L Vuong

Apparatus and method offloads processing from a networking processor operating in a storage environment. Three main functions are offloaded: semaphore processing, frame order processing, and timer processing. Offloading of semaphore processing enables ordered access to semaphores. Offloading of frame order processing enables the network processor to quickly transmit an incoming frame if the incoming frame is the next one in the frame order. Offloading of timer processing enables background checking of the timer list.

Apparatus to offload and accelerate pico code processing running in a storage processor

A cache connected to the virtualization engine in the center of a storage area network. The invention caches data in a virtual cache, without requiring translation to the physical location. The cache is done as the data crosses the network through the virtualization engine, eliminating the need to do the further translation and forwarding over the network to the actual storage controller in the event the data is in the cache. In addition, the invention eliminates the need for multiple caches at each physical storage controller.

Storage area network data cache

A routing table circuit for a router has one or more input ports and output ports for message communication. In the routing table circuit, one or more routing table memories store a plurality of routing table arrays. The routing table arrays are arranged hierarchically in levels, and each routing table array is associated with a predetermined subset of prefixes. Each routing table array has entries. The entries include a block default route pointer field to store a block default route pointer, if any, and a routing field. The route engine may access any level of table array by using a next level route pointer stored in the routing field. Using the block default route and the routing field, the present invention further reduces the number of memory accesses and the update cost for route insertion and deletion by identifying and skipping elements that do not require route updating.

Growing community of inventors

Redwood City, CA, United States of America

Ryan Herbst