Local exception traffic offload
AssigneeArista Networks, Inc.
InventorsKevin Martin Amiraux, Sean Hope
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A network device comprises interfaces, a forwarding chip for switching and forwarding network traffic, and central processing unit (CPU). The forwarding chip offloads exceptions to the local CPU. The local CPU executes a software forwarding engine (SFE) to process exception traffic offloaded by the forwarding chip to generate processed exception traffic and returns the processed exception traffic to the forwarding chip for forwarding.
Claims20
A network device comprising:
- a local central processing unit (CPU);
- a plurality of interfaces;
- a forwarding chip connected to the plurality of interfaces and the CPU, the forwarding chip configured to offload exception traffic to the local CPU;
- and
- a memory comprising stored software instructions for a software forwarding engine (SFE), the SFE executable by the local CPU to process the exception traffic offloaded by the forwarding chip to generate processed exception traffic and return the processed exception traffic to the forwarding chip for forwarding.
A method for exception offloading comprising:
- receiving traffic at a forwarding chip of a network device;
- identifying, by the forwarding chip, exception traffic for offloading;
- offloading the exception traffic to a local central processing unit (CPU) of the network device;
- executing, by the local CPU, a software forwarding engine to process the exception traffic offloaded by the forwarding chip to generate processed exception traffic;
- and
- returning the processed exception traffic to the forwarding chip for forwarding to a destination.
A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing thereon computer instructions for a software forwarding engine (SFE), the computer instructions comprising instructions executable by a central processing unit (CPU) to:
- receive exception traffic offloaded by a local forwarding chip of a network device;
- process the exception traffic offloaded by the local forwarding chip to generate processed exception traffic;
- and
- return the processed exception traffic to the local forwarding chip for forwarding to a destination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.