Phantom queue link level load balancing system, method and device
AssigneeMarvell Asia Pte Ltd
InventorMartin Leslie White
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A data processing system includes a phantom queue for each of a plurality of output ports each associated with an output link for outputting data. The phantom queues receive/monitor traffic on the respective ports and/or the associated links such that the congestion or traffic volume on the output ports/links is able to be determined by a congestion mapper coupled with the phantom queues. Based on the determined congestion level on each of the ports/links, the congestion mapper selects one or more non or less congested ports/links as destination of one or more packets. A link selection logic element then processes the packets according to the selected path or multi-path thereby reducing congestion on the system.
Claims30
A dynamic load balancing system on a microchip, the system comprising:
- a plurality of output ports;
- and
- link selection logic that receives packets and, for each of the packets, selects which one of the output ports the packet is to be output from, wherein for each of the packets:
- if a format of the packet is a target protocol format, the link selection logic selects the one of the output ports independent of a congestion level of each of the output ports;
- and
- if the format of the packet is a second protocol format that is different than the target protocol format, the link selection logic selects the one of the output ports based on the congestion level of each of the output ports.
A link selection logic element stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium of a microchip having a plurality of output ports, the link selection logic element configured to:
- receive a plurality of packets input by the microchip;
- and
- for each of the packets, select which one of the output ports the packet is to be output from, wherein if a format of the packet is a target protocol format, selection of the one of the output ports is independent of a congestion level of each of the output ports, and if the format of the packet is a second protocol format that is different than the target protocol format, selection of the one of the output ports is based on the congestion level of each of the output ports.
A method of dynamic load balancing within a dynamic load balancing system, the method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of packets with link selection logic on a microchip having a plurality of output ports;
- and
- for each of the packets, selecting which one of the output ports the packet is to be output from with the link selection logic, wherein if a format of the packet is a target protocol format, selection of the one of the output ports is independent of a congestion level of each of the output ports, and if the format of the packet is a second protocol format that is different than the target protocol format, selection of the one of the output ports is based on the congestion level of each of the output ports.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.