Generation of descriptive data for packet fields

Non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions that are executable by an integrated circuit, the integrated circuit being for use in a network, the integrated circuit comprising at least one packet processing pipeline for use in processing received frame data to generate egress frame data, the egress frame data to be output via the integrated circuit, the instructions, when executed by the integrated circuit, resulting in the integrated circuit being configurable to perform operations comprising:

• parsing, by at least one configurable parser of the at least one packet processing pipeline, header field data of the received frame data;
• determining, by configurable match-action stages of the at least one packet processing pipeline, based upon the header field data, at least one corresponding packet processing action to be taken;
• and
• generating, at least in part, by at least one other configurable stage of the at least one packet processing pipeline, the egress frame data;
• wherein:
• when the integrated circuit is in the operation:
• the at least one other configurable stage is to generate the egress frame data based upon information to be generated based upon:
• (1) egress frame header field-related information that:
• (a) comprises an ordered list that references at least one header field that is to be included in the egress frame data by the at least one other configurable stage;
• and
• (b) indicates at least one header field location in the egress frame data;
• and/or
• (c) indicates at least one header field length in the egress frame data;
• and
• (2) checksum-related information that associates at least one checksum that is to be included in the egress frame data by the at least one other configurable stage with another ordered list that references at least one portion of the egress frame data that is to be associated with the at least one checksum.

A method implemented by an integrated circuit, the integrated circuit being for use in a network, the integrated circuit comprising at least one packet processing pipeline for use in processing received frame data to generate egress frame data, the egress frame data to be output via the integrated circuit, the method comprising:

• parsing, by at least one configurable parser of the at least one packet processing pipeline, header field data of the received frame data;
• determining, by configurable match-action stages of the at least one packet processing pipeline, based upon the header field data, at least one corresponding packet processing action to be taken;
• and
• generating, at least in part, by at least one other configurable stage of the at least one packet processing pipeline, the egress frame data;
• wherein:
• when the integrated circuit is in the operation:
• the at least one other configurable stage is to generate the egress frame data based upon information to be generated based upon:
• (1) egress frame header field-related information that:
• (a) comprises an ordered list that references at least one header field that is to be included in the egress frame data by the at least one other configurable stage;
• and
• (b) indicates at least one header field location in the egress frame data;
• and/or
• (c) indicates at least one header field length in the egress frame data;
• and
• (2) checksum-related information that associates at least one checksum that is to be included in the egress frame data by the at least one other configurable stage with another ordered list that references at least one portion of the egress frame data that is to be associated with the at least one checksum.