Programmable packet parsing processor

In a packet parsing processor, a method comprising:

• storing parsing instructions for content inspection of network packets at memory locations representative of nodes of a state-graph to be traced, wherein each node is representative of a character of a network packet;
• receiving a first parsing instruction and the network packet;
• and
• executing a first parsing instruction located at a current node of the state-graph against a byte stream of the network packet to determine a next node of the state-graph, wherein the next node of the state-graph includes a second parsing instruction for a next character of the network packet,
• wherein the first parsing instruction comprises a hash instruction to perform an action related to the hash table.

A packet parsing processor, comprising

• means for storing parsing instructions for content inspection of network packets at memory locations representative of nodes of a state-graph to be traced, wherein each node is representative of a character of a network packet;
• means for receiving a first parsing instruction and the network packet;
• and
• means for executing, coupled to the means for storing and the means for receiving, the means for executing performing an action on a first parsing instruction located at a current node of the state-graph against a byte stream of the network packet to determine a next node of the state-graph, wherein the next node of the state-graph includes a second parsing instruction for a next character of the network packet,
• wherein the first parsing instruction comprises a hash instruction to perform an action related to a means for hashing.

A computer program product, comprising a computer-readable medium having computer program instructions and data embodied thereon for a method of parsing packets in a packet parsing processor, the method comprising:

• storing parsing instructions for content inspection of network packets at memory locations representative of nodes of a state-graph to be traced, wherein each node is representative of a character of a network packet;
• receiving a first parsing instruction and the network packet;
• and
• executing a first parsing instruction located at a current node of the state-graph against a byte stream of the network packet to determine a next node of the state-graph, wherein the next node of the state-graph includes a second parsing instruction for a next character of the network packet,
• wherein the first parsing instruction comprises a hash instruction to perform an action related to a hash table.

A network device having a processor and a memory, comprising:

• a state-graph unit to store parsing instructions for content inspection of network packets at memory locations representative of nodes of a state-graph to be traced, wherein each node is representative of a character of a network packet;
• and
• a parsing engine, having an input/output coupled to an input/output of the state-graph unit to receive the parsing instructions and having an input coupled to receive the network packet, the parsing engine to execute a first parsing instruction located at a current node of the state-graph against a byte stream from the network packet to determine a next node of the state-graph, wherein the next node of the state-graph includes a second parsing instruction for a next character of the network packet,
• the packet processor further comprising a hash table to store portions of data of the nodes of the state-graph, wherein the first parsing instruction comprises a hash instruction.