Efficient network device work queue

A work queue management method, comprising:

• storing a work queue including a plurality of work queue entry slots;
• writing work queue entries to the work queue in the work queue entry slots in a consecutive and cyclic manner so that a new work queue entry is added to a next one of the work queue entry slots;
• reading by a network device the work queue entries from the work queue in a consecutive and cyclic manner, the work queue entries indicating work to be performed associated with packets;
• dequeuing by a network device respective ones of the work queue entries read from the work queue responsively to reading the respective work queue entries from the work queue;
• adding by a network device the work queue entries to an execution database used to track execution of the work queue entries;
• and
• executing by a network device the work queue entries in the execution database.

A network device comprising:

• a network interface to share packets over a network;
• and
• packet processing circuitry to:
• read work queue entries from a work queue in a consecutive and cyclic manner, the work queue entries indicating work to be performed associated with the packets;
• dequeue respective ones of the work queue entries read from the work queue responsively to reading the respective work queue entries from the work queue;
• add the work queue entries to an execution database used to track execution of the work queue entries;
• and
• execute the work queue entries in the execution database.