Method and apparatus for packet classification and spreading in a virtualized system
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system for packet classification and spreading in a virtualized system. The system can use information in a packet's header to determine a destination system-image in the virtualized system, and a packet-spreading policy for the destination system-image. The system can determine a key using the information in a packet's header. Alternatively, the system can hash the information in the packet's header to obtain an index value. Next, the system can use the key or the index value to perform a lookup in a table which associates keys or index values with system images and/or packet-spreading policies. Once the destination system-image and the packet-spreading policy are determined, the system can deliver the packet to a thread on the destination system-image according to the packet-spreading policy.
1. A hardware-implemented method for packet classification and spreading in a virtualized system, the method comprising:
receiving, from a destination system-image in the virtualized system, at least one of a packet-spreading policy and an indication of information in received packet headers for which the packet-spreading policy is to be used, wherein the packet-spreading policy is used to determine how to spread packets that are to be sent to the destination system-image from which the packet-spreading policy was received, the spreading comprising sending a packet to, from a set of threads on the destination system-image, one of: a randomly selected thread, all threads, or a particular thread;
using information in the packet's header to determine:
the destination system image, and
the packet-spreading policy for the destination system-image; and
delivering the packet to a thread on the destination system-image according to the packet-spreading policy.
2. The hardware-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the information in the packet's header includes a unicast address.
3. The hardware-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the information in the packet's header includes a multicast address.
4. The hardware-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein using the information in the packet's header to determine the destination system-image comprises:
determining a key using the information in the packet's header; and
using the key to perform a lookup in a table which associates keys with system images.
5. The hardware-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein using the information in the packet's header to determine the packet-spreading policy comprises:
determining a key using the information in the packet's header; and
using the key to perform a lookup in a table which associates keys with packet-spreading policies.
6. The hardware-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein using the information in the packet's header to determine the destination system-image comprises:
hashing the information in the packet's header to obtain an index value; and
using the index value to perform a lookup in a table which associates index values with system images.
7. The hardware-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein using the information in the packet's header to determine the packet-spreading policy comprises:
hashing the information in the packet's header to obtain an index value; and
using the index value to perform a lookup in a table which associates index values with packet-spreading policies for system images.
8. The hardware-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein prior to using the information in the packet's header to determine the destination system-image and the packet-spreading policy, the method comprises:
determining a key using the information; and
associating the key with the packet-spreading policy and the destination system-image.
9. The hardware-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein prior to using the information in the packet's header to determine the destination system-image and the packet-spreading policy, the method comprises:
hashing the information to obtain an index value; and
associating the index value with the packet-spreading policy and the destination system-image.
10. A network interface unit, comprising:
a port configured to receive a packet from a network; and
a packet classifier configured to:
receive, from a destination system-image in a virtualized system, at least one of a packet-spreading policy and an indication of information in received packet headers for which the packet-spreading policy is to be used, wherein the packet classifier is configured to use the packet-spreading policy to determine how to spread packets that are to be sent to the destination system-image from which the packet-spreading policy was received, the spreading comprising sending the packet to, from a set of threads on the destination system-image, one of: a randomly selected thread, all threads, or a particular thread;
use the information in the packet's header to determine: the destination system-image and the packet-spreading policy for the destination system-image; and
deliver the packet to a thread on the destination system-image according to the packet-spreading policy.
11. The network interface unit of claim 10 , wherein the information in the packet's header includes a unicast address.
12. The network interface unit of claim 10 , wherein the information in the packet's header includes a multicast address.
13. The network interface unit of claim 10 , wherein the packet classifier is configured to:
determine a key using the information in the packet's header; and
use the key to perform a lookup in a table which associates keys with system images.
14. The network interface unit of claim 10 , wherein the packet classifier is configured to:
determine a key using the information in the packet's header; and
use the key to perform a lookup in a table which associates keys with packet-spreading policies.
15. The network interface unit of claim 10 , wherein the packet classifier is configured to:
hash the information in the packet's header to obtain an index value; and
use the index value to perform a lookup in a table which associates index values with system images.
16. The network interface unit of claim 10 , wherein the packet classifier is configured to:
hash the information in the packet's header to obtain an index value; and
use the index value to perform a lookup in a table which associates index values with packet-spreading policies for system images.
17. A packet classifier, comprising:
an information-receiving mechanism configured to receive information in a packet's header;
a receiving mechanism configured to receive, from a destination system-image in a virtualized system, at least one of a packet-spreading policy and an indication of information in received packet headers for which the packet-spreading policy is to be used, wherein the packet-spreading policy is used to determine how to spread packets that are to be sent to the destination system-image from which the packet-spreading policy was received, the spreading comprising delivering the packet to, from a set of threads on the destination system-image, one of: a randomly selected thread, all threads, or a particular thread;
a determining mechanism configured to use the information in the packet's header to determine the destination system-image and the packet-spreading policy; and
a delivery mechanism configured to deliver the packet to the destination system-image according to the packet-spreading policy.