Abstract: Described embodiments provide a packet classifier for a network processor that generates tasks corresponding to each received packet. The packet classifier includes a scheduler to generate threads of contexts corresponding to tasks received by the packet classifier from a plurality of processing modules of the network processor. A multi-thread instruction engine processes instructions corresponding to threads received from the scheduler. The multi-thread instruction engine executes instructions by fetching an instruction of the thread from an instruction memory of the packet classifier and determining whether a breakpoint mode of the network processor is enabled. If the breakpoint mode is enabled, and breakpoint indicator of the fetched instruction is set, the packet classifier enters a breakpoint mode. Otherwise, if the breakpoint indicator of the fetched instruction is not set, the multi-thread instruction engine executes the fetched instruction.

Abstract: An network processor is described that is configured to multicast multiple data packets to one or more engines. In one or more implementations, the network processor includes an input/output adapter configured to parse a plurality of tasks. The input/output adapter includes a multicast module configured to determine a reference count value based upon a maximum multicast value of the plurality of tasks. The input/output adapter is also configured to set a reference count decrement value within the control data portion of the plurality of tasks. The reference count decrement value is based upon the maximum multicast value. The input/output adapter is also configured to decrement the reference count value by a corresponding reference count decrement value upon receiving an indication from an engine.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure pertain to a system and method for de-queuing an active queue. The system promotes power efficiency by providing a mechanism for allowing some of its active queues to be de-queued and one or more of its processors associated with those active queues to be powered off during low traffic periods. Using fewer than all of its queues and processors, the system can handle incoming traffic during these low traffic periods without packet loss and without ordering issues.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a network processor having a plurality of processing modules coupled to a system cache and a shared memory. A memory manager allocates blocks of the shared memory to a requesting one of the processing modules. The allocated blocks store data corresponding to packets received by the network processor. The memory manager maintains a reference count for each allocated memory block indicating a number of processing modules accessing the block. One of the processing modules reads the data stored in the allocated memory blocks, stores the read data to corresponding entries of the system cache and operates on the data stored in the system cache. Upon completion of operation on the data, the processing module requests to decrement the reference count of each memory block. Based on the reference count, the memory manager invalidates the entries of the system cache and deallocates the memory blocks.

Abstract: Described embodiments process hash operation requests of a network processor. A hash processor determines a job identifier, a corresponding hash table, and a setting of a traversal indicator for a received hash operation request that includes a desired key. The hash processor concurrently generates a read request for a first bucket of the hash table, and provides the job identifier, the key and the traversal indicator to a read return processor. The read return processor stores the key and traversal indicator in a job memory and stores, in a return memory, entries of the first bucket of the hash table. If a stored entry matches the desired key, the read return processor determines, based on the traversal indicator, whether to read a next bucket of the hash table and provides the job identifier, the matching key, and the address of the bucket containing the matching key to the hash processor.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a packet classifier of a network processor having a plurality of processing modules. A scheduler generates a thread of contexts for each tasks generated by the network processor corresponding to each received packet. The thread corresponds to an order of instructions applied to the corresponding packet. A multi-thread instruction engine processes the threads of instructions. A function bus interface inspects instructions received from the multi-thread instruction engine for one or more exception conditions. If the function bus interface detects an exception, the function bus interface reports the exception to the scheduler and the multi-thread instruction engine. The scheduler reschedules the thread corresponding to the instruction having the exception for processing in the multi-thread instruction engine. Otherwise, the function bus interface provides the instruction to a corresponding destination processing module of the network processor.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a hash processor for a system having multiple processing modules and a shared memory. The hash processor includes a descriptor table with N entries, each entry corresponding to a hash table of the hash processor. A direct mapped table in the shared memory includes at least one memory block including N hash buckets. The direct mapped table includes a predetermined number of hash buckets for each hash table. Each hash bucket includes one or more hash key and value pairs, and a link value. Memory blocks in the shared memory include dynamic hash buckets available for allocation to a hash table. A dynamic hash bucket is allocated to a hash table when the hash buckets in the direct mapped table are filled beyond a threshold. The link value in the hash bucket is set to the address of the dynamic hash bucket allocated to the hash table.

Abstract: Described embodiments process hash operation requests of a network processor. A hash processor determines a job identifier, a corresponding hash table, and a setting of a traversal indicator for a received hash operation request that includes a desired key. The hash processor concurrently generates a read request for a first bucket of the hash table, and provides the job identifier, the key and the traversal indicator to a read return processor. The read return processor stores the key and traversal indicator in a job memory and stores, in a return memory, entries of the first bucket of the hash table. If a stored entry matches the desired key, the read return processor determines, based on the traversal indicator, whether to read a next bucket of the hash table and provides the job identifier, the matching key, and the address of the bucket containing the matching key to the hash processor.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide address translation for data stored in at least one shared memory of a network processor. A processing module of the network processor generates tasks corresponding to each of a plurality of received packets. A packet classifier generates contexts for each task, each context associated with a thread of instructions to apply to the corresponding packet. A first subset of instructions is stored in a tree memory within the at least one shared memory. A second subset of instructions is stored in a cache within a multi-thread engine of the packet classifier. The multi-thread engine maintains status indicators corresponding to the first and second subsets of instructions within the cache and the tree memory and, based on the status indicators, accesses a lookup table while processing a thread to translate between an instruction number and a physical address of the instruction in the first and second subset of instructions.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods are provided for treating ballast water by chemical injection using an injector having a geometry that minimally obstructs the ballast water flow to accomplish homogeneous mixing of hypochlorite with the ballast water within a short distance. The injector is inexpensive and has a configuration that may be easily installed and maintained.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide coherent processing of hash operations of a network processor having a plurality of processing modules. A hash processor of the network processor receives hash operation requests from the plurality of processing modules. A hash table identifier and bucket index corresponding to the received hash operation request are determined. An active index list is maintained for active hash operations for each hash table identifier and bucket index. If the hash table identifier and bucket index of the received hash operation request are in the active index list, the received hash operation request is deferred until the hash table identifier and bucket index corresponding to the received hash operation request clear from the active index list. Otherwise, the active index list is updated with the hash table identifier and bucket index of the received hash operation request and the received hash operation request is processed.

Abstract: Described embodiments process multiple threads of commands in a network processor. One or more tasks are generated corresponding to each received packet, and the tasks are provided to a packet processor module (MPP). A scheduler associates each received task with a command flow. A thread updater writes state data corresponding to the flow to a context memory. The scheduler determines an order of processing of the command flows. When a processing thread of a multi-thread processor is available, the thread updater loads, from the context memory, state data for at least one scheduled flow to one of the multi-thread processors. The multi-thread processor processes a next command of the flow based on the loaded state data. If the processed command requires operation of a co-processor module, the multi-thread processor sends a co-processor request and switches command processing from the first flow to a second flow.

Abstract: Described embodiments process hash operation requests of a network processor. A hash processor determines a job identifier, a corresponding hash table, and a setting of a traversal indicator for a received hash operation request that includes a desired key. The hash processor concurrently generates a read request for a first bucket of the hash table, and provides the job identifier, the key and the traversal indicator to a read return processor. The read return processor stores the key and traversal indicator in a job memory and stores, in a return memory, entries of the first bucket of the hash table. If a stored entry matches the desired key, the read return processor determines, based on the traversal indicator, whether to read a next bucket of the hash table and provides the job identifier, the matching key, and the address of the bucket containing the matching key to the hash processor.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a network processor having a plurality of processing modules coupled to a system cache and a shared memory. A memory manager allocates blocks of the shared memory to a requesting one of the processing modules. The allocated blocks store data corresponding to packets received by the network processor. The memory manager maintains a reference count for each allocated memory block indicating a number of processing modules accessing the block. One of the processing modules reads the data stored in the allocated memory blocks, stores the read data to corresponding entries of the system cache and operates on the data stored in the system cache. Upon completion of operation on the data, the processing module requests to decrement the reference count of each memory block. Based on the reference count, the memory manager invalidates the entries of the system cache and deallocates the memory blocks.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a packet classifier of a network processor having a plurality of processing modules. A scheduler generates a thread of contexts for each tasks generated by the network processor corresponding to each received packet. The thread corresponds to an order of instructions applied to the corresponding packet. A multi-thread instruction engine processes the threads of instructions. A function bus interface inspects instructions received from the multi-thread instruction engine for one or more exception conditions. If the function bus interface detects an exception, the function bus interface reports the exception to the scheduler and the multi-thread instruction engine. The scheduler reschedules the thread corresponding to the instruction having the exception for processing in the multi-thread instruction engine. Otherwise, the function bus interface provides the instruction to a corresponding destination processing module of the network processor.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a hash processor for a system having multiple processing modules and a shared memory. The hash processor includes a descriptor table with N entries, each entry corresponding to a hash table of the hash processor. A direct mapped table in the shared memory includes at least one memory block including N hash buckets. The direct mapped table includes a predetermined number of hash buckets for each hash table. Each hash bucket includes one or more hash key and value pairs, and a link value. Memory blocks in the shared memory include dynamic hash buckets available for allocation to a hash table. A dynamic hash bucket is allocated to a hash table when the hash buckets in the direct mapped table are filled beyond a threshold. The link value in the hash bucket is set to the address of the dynamic hash bucket allocated to the hash table.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a packet classifier for a network processor that generates tasks corresponding to each received packet. The packet classifier includes a scheduler to generate threads of contexts corresponding to tasks received by the packet classifier from a plurality of processing modules of the network processor. A multi-thread instruction engine processes instructions corresponding to threads received from the scheduler. The multi-thread instruction engine executes instructions by fetching an instruction of the thread from an instruction memory of the packet classifier and determining whether a breakpoint mode of the network processor is enabled. If the breakpoint mode is enabled, and breakpoint indicator of the fetched instruction is set, the packet classifier enters a breakpoint mode. Otherwise, if the breakpoint indicator of the fetched instruction is not set, the multi-thread instruction engine executes the fetched instruction.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide coherent processing of hash operations of a network processor having a plurality of processing modules. A hash processor of the network processor receives hash operation requests from the plurality of processing modules. A hash table identifier and bucket index corresponding to the received hash operation request are determined. An active index list is maintained for active hash operations for each hash table identifier and bucket index. If the hash table identifier and bucket index of the received hash operation request are in the active index list, the received hash operation request is deferred until the hash table identifier and bucket index corresponding to the received hash operation request clear from the active index list. Otherwise, the active index list is updated with the hash table identifier and bucket index of the received hash operation request and the received hash operation request is processed.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide address translation for data stored in at least one shared memory of a network processor. A processing module of the network processor generates tasks corresponding to each of a plurality of received packets. A packet classifier generates contexts for each task, each context associated with a thread of instructions to apply to the corresponding packet. A first subset of instructions is stored in a tree memory within the at least one shared memory. A second subset of instructions is stored in a cache within a multi-thread engine of the packet classifier. The multi-thread engine maintains status indicators corresponding to the first and second subsets of instructions within the cache and the tree memory and, based on the status indicators, accesses a lookup table while processing a thread to translate between an instruction number and a physical address of the instruction in the first and second subset of instructions.