Network intermediate system with message passing architecture

A bus interface which provides access to a bus for a local processor having local memory, comprising:

• a command list storing a list of commands which characterize transfers of data from local memory across the bus,
• a bus data buffer which buffers data subject of a command being executed between local memory and the bus,
• a free buffer list storing pointers to free buffers in local memory into which data may be loaded from the bus,
• an inbound data buffer which buffers data subject of a transfer addressed to the local processor between the bus and free buffers in local memory, and
• a receive list storing pointers to buffers in local memory loaded with data from the bus.

An apparatus for transferring large amounts of input/output data among a plurality of processors having respective local memories, comprising:

• a bus interconnecting the plurality of processors;
• a plurality of bus interface devices, coupled to the bus and to corresponding processors in the plurality of processors, including a first bus interface device in the plurality of bus interface devices which originates a transfer;
• and a second bus interface device in the plurality of bus interface devices which receives a transfer, the second bus interface device, including
• a free buffer list storing pointers to free buffers in local memory into which data may be loaded from the bus,
• a receive list storing pointers to buffers in local memory loaded with data from the bus, including a first high priority receive list and a second lower priority receive list, and
• logic which monitors the free buffer list which causes lower priority messages to be dropped to prevent overflow of the free buffer resources.

A network traffic management system, comprising:

• a bus:
• a plurality of processors, each including local memory, at least one network interface, a bus interface coupled to the bus, and resources for managing the at least one network interface and the bus interface;
• the bus interface including
• a command list storing a list of commands which characterize transfers of data from local memory across the bus,
• a bus data buffer which buffers data subject of a command being executed between local memory and the bus,
• a free buffer list storing pointers to free buffers in local memory into which data may be loaded from the bus,
• an inbound data buffer which buffers data subject of a transfer addressed to the second processor between the bus and free buffers in local memory, and
• a receive list storing pointers to buffers in local memory loaded with data from the bus.