Methods for switching network packets based on packet data and devices

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for managing network packets comprising executable code which when executed by one or more processors, causes the processors to:

• separate header data and payload data for a network packet;
• create, exclusively with a field programmable gate array (FPGA) device within a network traffic manager apparatus, digest data from the separated header data for the network packet;
• assign the digest data for each of the header data to a specific processor of a plurality of processors, wherein the specific processor is a separate processor from the FPGA device;
• identify a network action for the network packet based on the created digest data for each of the header data, wherein the identified network action comprises:
• adding, changing or deleting a MAC address from the network packet;
• adding, changing or deleting an IP address from the network packet;
• switching the network packet to a new destination;
• routing the network packet to a next-hop;
• decrementing the network packet's time-to-live;
• dropping the network packet;
• or
• transforming the header data or tunnel data of the network packet;
• and
• perform, exclusively with the assigned specific processor of the plurality of processors, the identified network action on the separated header data and the payload data, wherein the specific processor is selected based on the created digest data for each of the header data.

A network traffic manager apparatus, comprising memory comprising programmed instructions stored in the memory and one or more processors configured to be capable of executing the programmed instructions stored in the memory to:

• separate header data and payload data for a network packet;
• create, exclusively with a field programmable gate array (FPGA) device within a network traffic manager apparatus, digest data from the separated header data for the network packet;
• assign the digest data for each of the header data to a specific processor of a plurality of processors, wherein the specific processor is a separate processor from the FPGA device;
• identify a network action for the network packet based on the created digest data for each of the header data, wherein the identified network action comprises:
• adding, changing or deleting a MAC address from the network packet;
• adding, changing or deleting an IP address from the network packet;
• switching the network packet to a new destination;
• routing the network packet to a next-hop;
• decrementing the network packet's time-to-live;
• dropping the network packet;
• or
• transforming the header data or tunnel data of the network packet;
• and
• perform, exclusively with the assigned specific processor of the plurality of processors, the identified network action on the separated header data and the payload data, wherein the specific processor is selected based on the created digest data for each of the header data.

A network traffic management system, comprising one or more traffic management apparatuses, client devices, or server devices, the network traffic management system comprising memory comprising programmed instructions stored thereon and one or more processors configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:

• separate header data and payload data for a network packet;
• create, exclusively with a field programmable gate array (FPGA) device within a network traffic manager apparatus, digest data from the header data for the network packet;
• assign the digest data for each of the header data to a specific processor of a plurality of processors, wherein the specific processor is a separate processor from the FPGA device;
• identify a network action for the network packet based on the created digest data for each of the header data, wherein the identified network action comprises:
• adding, changing or deleting a MAC address from the network packet;
• adding, changing or deleting an IP address from the network packet;
• switching the network packet to a new destination;
• routing the network packet to a next-hop;
• decrementing the network packet's time-to-live;
• dropping the network packet;
• or
• transforming the header data or tunnel data of the network packet;
• and
• perform, exclusively with the assigned specific processor of the plurality of processors, the identified network action on the separated header data and the payload data, wherein the specific processor is selected based on the created digest data for each of the header data.