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 device, the network device comprising physical layer and data link layer communication circuitry, the network device being for use in receiving network traffic and also usable in association with a remote controller that is to be communicatively coupled to the network device via at least one network, the instructions when executed by the network device resulting in the network device being configured for performance of operations comprising:

• identifying and parsing, by packet parser circuitry of the network device, at least one header of at least one incoming packet;
• and
• generating, by the packet parser circuitry, output data for use in association with at least one packet switching-related operation, the packet parser circuitry being programmable, at least in part, based upon compilation of user-provided instructions in a language, the user-provided instructions being configurable to describe, at least in part, a parse graph, the parse graph being to define, at least in part, (1) header structure of the at least one incoming packet and/or (2) manner of parsing of the at least one header;
• wherein:
• the user-provided instructions also are configurable to describe match/action tuples that associate, at least in part, possible incoming packet characteristics with corresponding actions to be taken by the network device;
• the corresponding actions comprise the at least one packet switching-related operation;
• when the network device is in operation, the network device is to determine a particular action to take with respect to the at least one incoming packet based, at least in part, upon the output data and the match/action tuples;
• and
• when the network device is in operation, the network device is programmable, at least in part, based upon control information to be provided to the network device from the remote controller via the at least one network.

A method implemented, at least in part, by a network device, the network device comprising physical layer and data link layer communication circuitry, the network device being for use in receiving network traffic and also usable in association with a remote controller that is to be communicatively coupled to the network device via at least one network, the method comprising:

• identifying and parsing, by packet parser circuitry of the network device, at least one header of at least one incoming packet;
• and
• generating, by the packet parser circuitry, output data for use in association with at least one packet switching-related operation, the packet parser circuitry being programmable, at least in part, based upon compilation of user-provided instructions in a language, the user-provided instructions being configurable to describe, at least in part, a parse graph, the parse graph being to define, at least in part, (1) header structure of the at least one incoming packet and/or (2) manner of parsing of the at least one header;
• wherein:
• the user-provided instructions also are configurable to describe match/action tuples that associate, at least in part, possible incoming packet characteristics with corresponding actions to be taken by the network device;
• the corresponding actions comprise the at least one packet switching-related operation;
• when the network device is in operation, the network device is to determine a particular action to take with respect to the at least one incoming packet based, at least in part, upon the output data and the match/action tuples;
• and
• when the network device is in operation, the network device is programmable, at least in part, based upon control information to be provided to the network device from the remote controller via the at least one network.

A network device for use in receiving network traffic via at least one network, the network device comprising:

• packet parser circuitry for use in (1) identifying and parsing at least one header of at least one incoming packet and (2) for generating output data for use in association with at least one packet switching-related operation, the packet parser circuitry being programmable, at least in part, based upon compilation of user-provided instructions in a language, the user-provided instructions being configurable to describe, at least in part, a parse graph, the parse graph being to define, at least in part, (1) header structure of the at least one incoming packet and/or (2) manner of parsing of the at least one header;
• wherein:
• the user-provided instructions also are configurable to describe match/action tuples that associate, at least in part, possible incoming packet characteristics with corresponding actions to be taken by the network device;
• the corresponding actions comprise the at least one packet switching-related operation;
• and
• when the network device is in operation, the network device is to determine a particular action to take with respect to the at least one incoming packet based, at least in part, upon the output data and the match/action tuples.

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

• identifying and parsing, by packet parser circuitry of the network device, at least one header of at least one incoming packet;
• and
• generating, by the packet parser circuitry, output data for use in association with at least one packet switching-related operation, the packet parser circuitry being programmable, at least in part, based upon compilation of user-provided instructions in a language, the user-provided instructions being configurable to describe, at least in part, a parse graph, the parse graph being to define, at least in part, (1) header structure of the at least one incoming packet and/or (2) manner of parsing of the at least one header;
• wherein:
• the user-provided instructions also are configurable to describe match/action tuples that associate, at least in part, possible incoming packet characteristics with corresponding actions to be taken by the network device;
• the corresponding actions comprise the at least one packet switching-related operation;
• and
• when the network device is in operation, the network device is to determine a particular action to take with respect to the at least one incoming packet based, at least in part, upon the output data and the match/action tuples.

A method implemented, at least in part, by a network device, the network device for use in receiving network traffic via at least one network, the method comprising:

• identifying and parsing, by packet parser circuitry of the network device, at least one header of at least one incoming packet;
• and
• generating, by the packet parser circuitry, output data for use in association with at least one packet switching-related operation, the packet parser circuitry being programmable, at least in part, based upon compilation of user-provided instructions in a language, the user-provided instructions being configurable to describe, at least in part, a parse graph, the parse graph being to define, at least in part, (1) header structure of the at least one incoming packet and/or (2) manner of parsing of the at least one header;
• wherein:
• the user-provided instructions also are configurable to describe match/action tuples that associate, at least in part, possible incoming packet characteristics with corresponding actions to be taken by the network device;
• the corresponding actions comprise the at least one packet switching-related operation;
• and
• when the network device is in operation, the network device is to determine a particular action to take with respect to the at least one incoming packet based, at least in part, upon the output data and the match/action tuples.