Abstract: A device for determining oversubscription of a first virtualized network function (70) in order to enable flow control in the virtualization of at least one node in a communication network comprises a first virtualized network function (70) having packet handling resources comprising at least one queue (108, 112, 114, 120) and being a downstream network function located downstream from at least one second upstream network function in a packet flow between the network functions. The device comprises flow control functionality (79) set to monitor at least one queue (108, 112, 114, 120), determine if the first virtualized network function (70) is oversubscribed based on the monitoring, and generate, in case the first virtualized network function is determined to be oversubscribed, an instruction for at least one upstream network function to change its transmission rate to the first virtualized network function (70) in order to reduce the oversubscription.

Abstract: A method of forwarding packets in a network device is disclosed. Packets of a flow are mapped to a first bucket associated with a first packet processing thread. Each bucket from a plurality of buckets is associated with a respective one from the plurality of packet processing threads. Responsive to determining that the first packet processing thread belongs to a normal pool, the packets of the flow are mapped from the first bucket to a queue of the first packet processing thread, processed in the first packet processing thread, and forwarded in a same order as processed. Responsive to determining that the first packet processing thread is in the backlogged pool, the packets are load-balanced over two or more packet processing threads of the backlogged pool, processed in one of the two or more packet processing threads of the backlogged pool, and forwarded according to a predetermined order.

Abstract: A device for determining oversubscription of a first virtualized network function (70) in order to enable flow control in the virtualization of at least one node in a communication network comprises a first virtualized network function (70) having packet handling resources comprising at least one queue (108, 112, 114, 120) and being a downstream network function located downstream from at least one second upstream network function in a packet flow between the network functions. The device comprises flow control functionality (79) set to monitor at least one queue (108, 112, 114, 120), determine if the first virtualized network function (70) is oversubscribed based on the monitoring, and generate, in case the first virtualized network function is determined to be oversubscribed, an instruction for at least one upstream network function to change its transmission rate to the first virtualized network function (70) in order to reduce the oversubscription.

Abstract: A method of forwarding packets in a network device is disclosed. Packets of a flow are mapped to a first bucket associated with a first packet processing thread. Each bucket from a plurality of buckets is associated with a respective one from the plurality of packet processing threads. Responsive to determining that the first packet processing thread belongs to a normal pool, the packets of the flow are mapped from the first bucket to a queue of the first packet processing thread, processed in the first packet processing thread, and forwarded in a same order as processed. Responsive to determining that the first packet processing thread is in the backlogged pool, the packets are load-balanced over two or more packet processing threads of the backlogged pool, processed in one of the two or more packet processing threads of the backlogged pool, and forwarded according to a predetermined order.

Abstract: A method of forwarding packets in a network device is disclosed. The method comprises assigning a packet to a first packet processing thread; and determining a state of the first packet processing thread. Responsive to determining that the state of the first packet processing thread is a backlogged state, mapping the packet to a second packet processing thread from a pool of packet processing threads based on a load balancing scheme, wherein the pool of packet processing threads includes a subset of threads from the plurality of packet processing threads, and the state of each one of the packet processing threads from the pool is the backlogged state, processing the packet in the second packet processing thread, and forwarding the packet according to a predetermined order that is based on a position of the packet relative to positions of other packets at their receipt in the network device.

Abstract: A method for forwarding packets in a network device is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a packet; mapping the packet to a bucket, where the bucket is associated with a packet processing thread from a plurality of packet processing threads; and determining whether the packet processing thread is oversubscribed. The method continues with, in response to determining that the packet processing thread is not oversubscribed, mapping the packet to the packet processing thread; and in response to determining that the packet processing thread is oversubscribed, the method comprises distributing the packet to one of the plurality of packet processing threads based on a predefined load balancing scheme, processing the packet in the one of the plurality of packet processing threads, and forwarding the packet according to a predetermined order, where the predetermined order is based on a position of the packet relative to other packets at their receipt.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a destination edge device configured to receive a first validation packet according to a switch fabric validation protocol. The destination edge device is configured to validate multiple data paths through a distributed switch fabric from a source edge device to the destination edge device based on the first validation packet. The destination edge device is configured to send, in response to receiving the first validation packet, a second validation packet to a peripheral processing device. The destination edge device is also configured to send the second validation packet according to a validation protocol different from the first validation protocol.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a destination edge device configured to receive a first validation packet according to a switch fabric validation protocol. The destination edge device is configured to validate multiple data paths through a distributed switch fabric from a source edge device to the destination edge device based on the first validation packet. The destination edge device is configured to send, in response to receiving the first validation packet, a second validation packet to a peripheral processing device. The destination edge device is also configured to send the second validation packet according to a validation protocol different from the first validation protocol.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes storing received packets at an electronic device in a plurality of packet buffers based on hashing the packets, where each of the plurality of packet buffers is implemented as a hash bucket of a hash table. The method includes identifying a packet buffer that has stored packets, selecting a first processing thread from a plurality of processing threads based on a load balancing mechanism, forwarding a plurality of packets from the identified packet buffer to the first processing thread, and setting an indication that the identified packet buffer is mapped to the first processing thread. The method includes determining that the first processing thread has completed processing the plurality of packets, selecting either the first processing thread or a second processing thread for processing subsequent packets from the identified packet buffer, and maintaining or updating the indication based on the selection.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a destination edge device configured to receive a first validation packet according to a switch fabric validation protocol. The destination edge device is configured to validate multiple data paths through a distributed switch fabric from a source edge device to the destination edge device based on the first validation packet. The destination edge device is configured to send, in response to receiving the first validation packet, a second validation packet to a peripheral processing device. The destination edge device is also configured to send the second validation packet according to a validation protocol different from the first validation protocol.

Abstract: Exemplary methods for upgrading route processor virtual machines (RP VMs) and line card virtual machines (LC VMs) include upgrading a second RP VM serving as a standby RPVM with a new RP VM image. The methods further include spawning, using a new LC VM image, a second set of LC VMs to serve as standby LC VMs. The methods also include performing incubation of standby VMs, by configuring a switch to forward data traffic to both the first and second set of LC VMs, thereby allowing system states of the standby VMs to be auto-populated by the data traffic. The methods further include, after the incubation has completed, swapping roles of VMs at the virtual router, such that data traffic are exchanged only between the switch and the upgraded VMs.

Abstract: A method of forwarding packets in a network device is disclosed. The method comprises assigning a packet to a first packet processing thread; and determining a state of the first packet processing thread. Responsive to determining that the state of the first packet processing thread is a backlogged state, mapping the packet to a second packet processing thread from a pool of packet processing threads based on a load balancing scheme, wherein the pool of packet processing threads includes a subset of threads from the plurality of packet processing threads, and the state of each one of the packet processing threads from the pool is the backlogged state, processing the packet in the second packet processing thread, and forwarding the packet according to a predetermined order that is based on a position of the packet relative to positions of other packets at their receipt in the network device.

Abstract: A method for forwarding packets in a network device is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a packet; mapping the packet to a bucket, where the bucket is associated with a packet processing thread from a plurality of packet processing threads; and determining whether the packet processing thread is oversubscribed. The method continues with, in response to determining that the packet processing thread is not oversubscribed, mapping the packet to the packet processing thread; and in response to determining that the packet processing thread is oversubscribed, the method comprises distributing the packet to one of the plurality of packet processing threads based on a predefined load balancing scheme, processing the packet in the one of the plurality of packet processing threads, and forwarding the packet according to a predetermined order, where the predetermined order is based on a position of the packet relative to other packets at their receipt.

Abstract: Exemplary methods for upgrading route processor virtual machines (RP VMs) and line card virtual machines (LC VMs) include upgrading a second RP VM serving as a standby RPVM with a new RP VM image. The methods further include spawning, using a new LC VM image, a second set of LC VMs to serve as standby LC VMs. The methods also include performing incubation of standby VMs, by configuring a switch to forward data traffic to both the first and second set of LC VMs, thereby allowing system states of the standby VMs to be auto-populated by the data traffic. The methods further include, after the incubation has completed, swapping roles of VMs at the virtual router, such that data traffic are exchanged only between the switch and the upgraded VMs.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a first switch configured to define an initialization packet that has a header value associated with a port from a set of ports associated with a link aggregation group. The first switch is configured to send the initialization packet to a second switch via the port based on the header value. The first switch is configured to receive an acknowledgement packet including the header value from the second switch in response to the second switch receiving the initialization packet. The first switch is configured to retrieve the header value from the acknowledgement packet such that the first switch defines, in response to the first switch receiving the acknowledgement packet, a response packet having the header value. The first switch is configured to send the response packet to the second switch via the port based on the header value.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a destination edge device configured to receive a first validation packet according to a switch fabric validation protocol. The destination edge device is configured to validate multiple data paths through a distributed switch fabric from a source edge device to the destination edge device based on the first validation packet. The destination edge device is configured to send, in response to receiving the first validation packet, a second validation packet to a peripheral processing device. The destination edge device is also configured to send the second validation packet according to a validation protocol different from the first validation protocol.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a destination edge device configured to receive a first validation packet according to a switch fabric validation protocol. The destination edge device is configured to validate multiple data paths through a distributed switch fabric from a source edge device to the destination edge device based on the first validation packet. The destination edge device is configured to send, in response to receiving the first validation packet, a second validation packet to a peripheral processing device. The destination edge device is also configured to send the second validation packet according to a validation protocol different from the first validation protocol.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a replication engine of a switch module of a multi-stage switch. The replication engine is configured to receive a first validation packet from an input port of the switch module. The replication engine is configured to determine multiple output ports of the switch module to which a data packet can be sent to reach a destination device associated with the first validation packet. The replication engine is configured to define multiple second validation packets based on a number of output ports from the multiple output ports such that each second validation packet from the multiple second validation packets is uniquely associated with an output port from the multiple output ports. The replication engine is configured to send the multiple second validation packets to an output module configured to forward each second validation packet from the multiple second validation packets to its associated output port.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a replication engine of a switch module of a multi-stage switch. The replication engine is configured to receive a first validation packet from an input port of the switch module. The replication engine is configured to determine multiple output ports of the switch module to which a data packet can be sent to reach a destination device associated with the first validation packet. The replication engine is configured to define multiple second validation packets based on a number of output ports from the multiple output ports such that each second validation packet from the multiple second validation packets is uniquely associated with an output port from the multiple output ports. The replication engine is configured to send the multiple second validation packets to an output module configured to forward each second validation packet from the multiple second validation packets to its associated output port.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a destination edge device configured to receive a first validation packet according to a switch fabric validation protocol. The destination edge device is configured to validate multiple data paths through a distributed switch fabric from a source edge device to the destination edge device based on the first validation packet. The destination edge device is configured to send, in response to receiving the first validation packet, a second validation packet to a peripheral processing device. The destination edge device is also configured to send the second validation packet according to a validation protocol different from the first validation protocol.