Network devices having configurable receive packet queues and related methods
View Patent ↗Method and system for configuring a receive packet queue in a network device are provided. The method includes determining how many sub-ports of a port of the network device are configured; assigning memory to each of the configured sub-ports based on the determination of how many sub-ports are configured; determining a flow control scheme to be used for packet transmission; and dividing the receive packet queue based on the determination of the flow control scheme to be used.
1. A machine-implemented method for configuring a receive packet queue in a network device, the method comprising:
determining how many sub-ports of a port of the network device are configured, wherein the port includes a plurality of sub-ports configured to operate as independent ports for sending and receiving packets using one of a plurality of network links at a plurality of rates and complying with a plurality of protocols;
assigning memory to each of the configured sub-ports based on the determination of how many sub-ports are configured;
determining a flow control scheme to be used for packet transmission; and
dividing the receive packet queue based on the determination of the flow control scheme to be used.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein when only one sub-port is configured then all of the memory is assigned to it.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein when only two sub-ports are configured then half of the memory is assigned to each sub-port.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein when only three sub-ports are configured half of the memory is assigned to a first one of the configured sub-ports and one-quarter of the memory is assigned to each of the other configured sub-ports.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first one of the configured sub-ports is a dual-lane port.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein when four sub-ports are configured then one-quarter of the memory is assigned to each.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the flow control scheme to be used comprises determining whether a protocol being used is Fibre Channel.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein if the protocol being used is Fibre Channel, determining whether virtual lanes (VL's) are enabled.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein when VL's are enabled, dividing the receive packet queue equally by a number of VL's.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein when the protocol being used is not Fibre Channel, determining whether flow control is enabled.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein when flow control is enabled, determining whether Per Priority Flow Control is in effect.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein when Per Priority Flow Control is in effect, dividing the receive packet segment by a number of priorities or classes of service supported.
13. A network device comprising:
at least one port, wherein the port includes a plurality of sub-ports configured to operate as independent ports for sending and receiving packets using one of a plurality of network links at a plurality of rates and complying with a plurality of protocols;
a memory containing machine readable medium comprising machine executable code having stored thereon instructions; and
a processor module coupled to the memory, the processor module configured to execute the machine executable code to:
determine how many sub-ports of the at least one port of the network device are configured;
assign memory to each of the configured sub-ports based on the determination of how many sub-ports are configured;
determine a flow control scheme to be used for packet transmission; and
divide the receive packet queue based on the determination of the flow control scheme to be used.
14. The network device of claim 13 , wherein when only one sub-port is configured then all of the memory is assigned to it.
15. The network device of claim 13 , wherein when only two sub-ports are configured then half of the memory is assigned to each sub-port.
16. The network device of claim 13 , wherein when only three sub-ports are configured half of the memory is assigned to a first one of the configured sub-ports and one-quarter of the memory is assigned to each of the other configured sub-ports.
17. The network device of claim 16 , wherein the first one of the configured sub-ports is a dual-lane port.
18. The network device of claim 13 , wherein when four sub-ports are configured then one-quarter of the memory is assigned to each.
19. The network device of claim 13 , wherein the code to determine the flow control scheme to be used comprises code to determine whether a protocol being used is Fibre Channel.
20. The network device of claim 19 , wherein if the protocol being used is Fibre Channel, the code further determines whether virtual lanes (VL's) are enabled.
21. The network device of claim 20 , wherein when VL's are enabled, the code further divides the receive packet queue equally by a number of VL's.
22. A non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions for performing a method, comprising machine executable code which when executed by at least one machine, causes the machine to:
determine how many sub-ports of a port of a network device are configured, wherein the port includes a plurality of sub-ports configured to operate as independent ports for sending and receiving packets using one of a plurality of network links at a plurality of rates and complying with a plurality of protocols;
assign memory to each of the configured sub-ports based on the determination of how many sub-ports are configured;
determine a flow control scheme to be used for packet transmission; and
divide the receive packet queue based on the determination of the flow control scheme to be used.
23. The storage medium of claim 22 , wherein when only one sub-port is configured then all of the memory is assigned to it.