Pseudo-random hardware resource allocation

An apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of hardware elements configured to provide hardware resources;
• and
• a pseudo-random allocation module coupled to the plurality of hardware elements and configured to:
• configure a plurality of entries of a resource list, wherein each resource list entry of the plurality of resource list entries is to identify one hardware element of the plurality of hardware elements;
• configure a plurality of entries of an index list, wherein each index list entry of the plurality of index list entries is to identify one resource list entry of the plurality of resource list entries;
• set an index list pointer to identify a first index list entry of the plurality of index list entries;
• and
• request hardware resources from a first hardware element of the plurality of hardware elements by,
• identifying, using the index list pointer, the first index list entry,
• identifying, using the first index list entry, a first resource list entry,
• selecting the hardware element identified by the first resource list entry as the first hardware element, and
• sending a request for hardware resources to the first hardware element.

A system, comprising:

• a plurality of hardware elements, wherein each hardware element of the plurality of hardware elements provides hardware resources;
• and
• a computing device coupled to the plurality of hardware elements, comprising:
• a set of one or more network ports, and
• a pseudo-random allocation module that:
• configures a plurality of entries of a resource list, wherein each resource list entry of the plurality of resource list entries is to identify one hardware element of the plurality of hardware elements,
• configures a plurality of entries of an index list, wherein each index list entry of the plurality of index list entries is to identify one resource list entry of the plurality of resource list entries,
• sets an index list pointer to identify a first index list entry of the plurality of index list entries,
• requests hardware resources from a first hardware element of the plurality of hardware elements by,
• identifying, using the index list pointer, the first index list entry,
• identifying, using the first index list entry, a first resource list entry, and
• selecting the hardware element identified by the first resource list entry as the first hardware element, and
• sending a request for hardware resources to the first hardware element through use of the set of network ports.

A method in a packet processor for pseudo-random memory allocation through a plurality of memory controllers, wherein each memory controller of the plurality of memory controllers allocates memory from a plurality of memory units, the method comprising:

• configuring a plurality of entries of a resource list, wherein each resource list entry of the plurality of resource list entries identifies one memory controller of the plurality of memory controllers;
• configuring a plurality of entries of an index list, wherein each index list entry of the plurality of index list entries identifies one resource list entry of the plurality of resource list entries;
• setting an index list pointer to identify a first index list entry of the plurality of index list entries;
• and
• requesting memory from a first memory controller of the plurality of memory controllers by,
• identifying, using the index list pointer, the first index list entry,
• identifying, using the first index list entry, a first resource list entry,
• selecting the memory controller identified by the first resource list entry as the first memory controller, and
• sending, to the first memory controller, a request for an allocation of memory.

A network element, comprising:

• a plurality of memory controllers, wherein each memory controller of the plurality of memory controllers is configured to allocate memory from a plurality of memory units;
• and
• a pseudo-random allocation module coupled to the plurality of memory controllers and configured to:
• configure a plurality of entries of a resource list, wherein each resource list entry of the plurality of resource list entries is to identify one memory controller of the plurality of memory controllers;
• configure a plurality of entries of an index list, wherein each index list entry of the plurality of index list entries is to identify one resource list entry of the plurality of resource list entries;
• set an index list pointer to identify a first index list entry of the plurality of index list entries;
• and
• request memory from a first memory controller of the plurality of memory controllers by,
• identifying, using the index list pointer, the first index list entry,
• identifying, using the first index list entry, a first resource list entry,
• selecting the hardware element identified by the first resource list entry as the first memory controller, and
• sending, to the first memory controller, a request for an allocation of memory.