Programmable protocol parser for NIC classification and queue assignments

One or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media storing instructions for being executed by a network interface controller (NIC) adapter, the NIC adapter being for use in association with at least one host computer and a network, the NIC adapter also being for use in forwarding network traffic, the NIC adapter comprising Ethernet data link layer protocol communication circuitry for use in receiving at least one incoming packet via the network, the instructions when executed by the NIC adapter resulting in the NIC adapter being configured to perform operations comprising:

• identifying, by packet processing circuitry of the NIC adapter, a particular flow to which the at least one incoming packet belongs;
• and
• assigning, by the packet processing circuitry, at least one particular action to be applied by the NIC adapter with respect to processing of the at least one incoming packet, the packet processing circuitry being programmable, at least in part, based upon compilation of user-provided instructions that describe, at least in part, (1) manner of parsing of the at least one incoming packet and (2) tuples comprising a plurality of possible packet flows and corresponding actions, the compilation being for use in generating, at least in part, program instructions for use in programming, at least in part, the packet processing circuitry;
• wherein:
• when the NIC adapter is in operation:
• the packet processing circuitry is to determine the at least one particular action based, at least in part, upon the particular flow and the tuples;
• the NIC adapter is to receive additional packet processing parameter data via the at least one host computer for use by the packet processing circuitry;
• and
• the corresponding actions comprise:
• at least one offloaded packet switching-related operation for use in forwarding of packet data to at least one virtual machine;
• at least one packet filtering-related operation;
• and/or
• at least one packet protocol classification-related operation.

One or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media storing instructions for being executed by at least one computing device, the instructions, when executed by the at least one computing device resulting in the at least one computing device being configured for performance of operations comprising:

• generating a compilation of user-provided instructions that describe, at least in part, (1) manner of parsing at least one incoming packet to be received by a network interface controller (NIC) adapter via a network, and (2) tuples comprising a plurality of possible packet flows and corresponding actions to be performed by the NIC adapter, the compilation being for use in generating, at least in part, program instructions for use in programming, at least in part, the packet processing circuitry, the parsing to be performed by packet processing circuitry of the NIC adapter, the packet processing circuitry being for use in (1) identifying a particular flow to which the at least one incoming packet belongs and (2) assigning at least one particular action to be applied by the NIC adapter with respect to processing of the at least one incoming packet;
• wherein:
• the NIC adapter is for use in association with at least one host computer;
• when the NIC adapter is in operation:
• the packet processing circuitry is to determine the at least one particular action based, at least in part, upon the particular flow and the tuples;
• and
• the NIC adapter is to receive additional packet processing parameter data via the at least one host computer for use by the packet processing circuitry;
• and
• the corresponding actions comprise:
• at least one offloaded packet switching-related operation for use in forwarding of packet data to at least one virtual machine;
• at least one packet filtering-related operation;
• and/or
• at least one packet protocol classification-related operation.

A processor-based host computer system for use in receiving and forwarding network traffic, the host computer system comprising:

• at least one processor for use in executing one or more programs;
• the network interface controller (NIC) adapter communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, the NIC adapter comprising:
• Ethernet data link layer protocol network communication circuitry for use in receiving at least one incoming packet via a network;
• packet processing circuitry for use in (1) identifying a particular flow to which the at least one incoming packet belongs, and (2) for assigning at least one particular action to be applied by the NIC adapter with respect to processing of the at least one incoming packet, the packet processing circuitry being programmable, at least in part, based upon compilation of user-provided instructions that describe, at least in part, (1) manner of parsing of the at least one incoming packet and (2) tuples comprising a plurality of possible packet flows and corresponding actions, the compilation being for use in generating, at least in part, program instructions for use in programming, at least in part, the packet processing circuitry;
• wherein:
• when the NIC adapter is in operation:
• the packet processing circuitry is to determine the at least one particular action based, at least in part, upon the particular flow and the tuples;
• the NIC adapter is to receive additional packet processing parameter data via the host computer system for use by the packet processing circuitry;
• and
• the corresponding actions comprise:
• at least one offloaded packet switching-related operation for use in forwarding of packet data to at least one virtual machine;
• at least one packet filtering-related operation;
• and/or
• at least one packet protocol classification-related operation.