Dynamic allocation of memory for packet processing instruction tables in a network device

A method for operating a network device having a data storage resource for storing data for network transmissions, the method comprising:

• maintaining a plurality of allocated memory blocks, each respective allocated memory block being associated with a respective address hashing function, each respective address hashing function transforming a look-up key into a respective addressable location in a respective one of the at least one respective allocated memory block;
• maintaining a reserve of at least one additional memory block;
• determining that any one of the respective allocated memory blocks is an excess memory block that is not required for operation of the network device;
• and
• deallocating the excess memory block without interrupting searching operations being performed in the one of the respective allocated memory blocks of the data storage resource, by:
• storing a copy of data from the excess memory block in one of the at least one remaining one of the at least one respective allocated memory block;
• rehashing the copy of the data from the excess memory block, stored in the one of the at least one remaining one of the at least one respective allocated memory block, according to a respective address hash function of the at least one remaining one of the at least one respective allocated memory block, to form a new addressable location in the respective one of the at least one respective allocated memory block for the copy of the data from the excess memory block, for continued availability for network transmissions, by transformation of a look-up key into the new addressable location, of the data from the excess memory block.

A network device, comprising:

• at least one respective quantity of allocated memory blocks for storing data for network transmissions, each respective allocated memory block being associated with a respective address hashing function, each respective address hashing function transforming a look-up key into a respective addressable location in a respective one of the at least one respective allocated memory block;
• a reserve of at least one additional memory block;
• and
• a controller configured to selectably modify the respective quantity of memory blocks for one of the respective types of data, by:
• determining that any one of the respective allocated memory blocks is an excess memory block that is not required for operation of the data storage resource, and
• deallocating the excess memory block without interrupting searching operations being performed in the one of the respective allocated memory blocks of the data storage resource, by:
• storing a copy of data from the excess memory block in one of the at least one remaining one of the at least one respective allocated memory block;
• rehashing the copy of the data from the excess memory block, stored in the one of the at least one remaining one of the at least one respective allocated memory block, according to a respective address hash function of the at least one remaining one of the at least one respective allocated memory block, to form a new addressable location in the respective one of the at least one respective allocated memory block for the copy of the data from the excess memory block, for continued availability for network transmissions, by transformation of a look-up key into the new addressable location, of the data from the excess memory block.