In-network decision for end-server-based network function acceleration

A method comprising:

• at least one software-based processor implementing at least one virtual network function (VNF) associated with flow processing and offloading at least some of the flow processing to at least one hardware accelerator;
• and
• a module, external to the software-based processor and the hardware accelerator, examining a plurality of flows and determining which one or more flows are more suitable for offloading from the software-based processor to the hardware accelerator than one or more other flows, wherein:
• the at least one software-based processor and the at least one hardware accelerator are part of an end-server in the network;
• and
• the module is part of a network switch in the network that is external to the end-server and interconnects the end-server to one or more other end-servers in the network.

A network comprising:

• at least one software-based processor configured to implement at least one virtual network function (VNF) associated with flow processing;
• at least one hardware accelerator, wherein the software-based processor is configured to offload at least some of the flow processing to the hardware accelerator;
• and
• a module external to the software-based processor and the hardware accelerator and configured to examine a plurality of flows being processed by the network and determine which one or more flows are more suitable for offloading from the software-based processor to the hardware accelerator than one or more other flows, wherein:
• the external module is configured to communicate, to the software-based processor, the relative suitability for offloading of a flow;
• and
• the software-based processor is configured to use the relative suitability for offloading to determine whether or not to offload the flow.

A network comprising:

• at least one software-based processor configured to implement at least one virtual network function (VNF) associated with flow processing;
• at least one hardware accelerator, wherein the software-based processor is configured to offload at least some of the flow processing to the hardware accelerator;
• and
• a module external to the software-based processor and the hardware accelerator and configured to examine a plurality of flows being processed by the network and determine which one or more flows are more suitable for offloading from the software-based processor to the hardware accelerator than one or more other flows, wherein the external module is configured to transmit an out-of-band message to the software-based processor conveying the determined suitability for offloading of one or more flows.

A network comprising:

• at least one software-based processor configured to implement at least one virtual network function (VNF) associated with flow processing;
• at least one hardware accelerator, wherein the software-based processor is configured to offload at least some of the flow processing to the hardware accelerator;
• and
• a module external to the software-based processor and the hardware accelerator and configured to examine a plurality of flows being processed by the network and determine which one or more flows are more suitable for offloading from the software-based processor to the hardware accelerator than one or more other flows, wherein the external module is configured to identify a specified programmable number of flows for offloading.

A method comprising:

• at least one software-based processor implementing at least one virtual network function (VNF) associated with flow processing and offloading at least some of the flow processing to at least one hardware accelerator;
• and
• a module, external to the software-based processor and the hardware accelerator, examining a plurality of flows and determining which one or more flows are more suitable for offloading from the software-based processor to the hardware accelerator than one or more other flows, wherein:
• the external module communicates, to the software-based processor, the relative suitability for offloading of a flow;
• and
• the software-based processor uses the relative suitability for offloading to determine whether or not to offload the flow.

A method comprising:

• at least one software-based processor implementing at least one virtual network function (VNF) associated with flow processing and offloading at least some of the flow processing to at least one hardware accelerator;
• and
• a module, external to the software-based processor and the hardware accelerator, examining a plurality of flows and determining which one or more flows are more suitable for offloading from the software-based processor to the hardware accelerator than one or more other flows, wherein:
• the external module is configured to identify a specified number of flows for offloading;
• the specified number is programmable;
• and
• the software-based processor transmits a message to the external module to change the programmable specified number.