Abstract: Communication apparatus includes multiple interfaces configured to be connected to a network so as to receive and transmit data packets having respective packet headers, which can include sub-headers of different, respective types. A memory stores instructions for parsing each type of sub-headers and a transition table, which indicates, for each of the types, a location of the instructions for parsing a subsequent sub-header depending upon the type of the subsequent sub-header. A plurality of predefined types are represented in the transition table by a common alias. Routing logic parses the first sub-header in a packet, reads the type of the second sub-header from the first sub-header, and accesses the transition table using the common alias in place of the type of the first sub-header so as to locate and read the instructions for parsing the second sub-header.

Abstract: Communication apparatus includes multiple interfaces configured to be connected to a network so as to receive and transmit data packets having respective packet headers that includes a basic header record and one or more optional records. Parsing instructions specify one or more types of the optional records and indicate, for each specified type, an offset within an optional record of the specified type. Upon receiving each packet, routing logic parses the basic header record in the packet, parses the one or more optional records so as to identify any optional records of the one or more specified types, extracts header data from the identified optional records at the offset indicated for the specified type, and processes and forwards the data packets via the interfaces to the network in accordance with information parsed from the basic header record and the extracted header data.

Abstract: Communication apparatus includes multiple interfaces configured to be connected to a network so as to receive and transmit data packets having respective packet headers that includes a basic header record and one or more optional records. Parsing instructions specify one or more types of the optional records and indicate, for each specified type, an offset within an optional record of the specified type. Upon receiving each packet, routing logic parses the basic header record in the packet, parses the one or more optional records so as to identify any optional records of the one or more specified types, extracts header data from the identified optional records at the offset indicated for the specified type, and processes and forwards the data packets via the interfaces to the network in accordance with information parsed from the basic header record and the extracted header data.

Abstract: Communication apparatus includes multiple interfaces configured to be connected to a network so as to receive and transmit data packets having respective packet headers, which can include sub-headers of different, respective types. A memory stores instructions for parsing each type of sub-headers and a transition table, which indicates, for each of the types, a location of the instructions for parsing a subsequent sub-header depending upon the type of the subsequent sub-header. A plurality of predefined types are represented in the transition table by a common alias. Routing logic parses the first sub-header in a packet, reads the type of the second sub-header from the first sub-header, and accesses the transition table using the common alias in place of the type of the first sub-header so as to locate and read the instructions for parsing the second sub-header.

Abstract: A method for communication includes transmitting a sequence of outgoing data blocks from a network node over a communication link to a peer node, and receiving incoming data blocks from the peer node. A control field is added in a predefined location in each of the outgoing data blocks in the sequence by the network node. In at least a first subset of the outgoing data blocks in the sequence, the control field contains error control information, which is capable of causing the peer node to retransmit one or more of the incoming data blocks to the network node, while in at least a second subset of the outgoing data blocks in the sequence, disjoint from the first subset, the control field contains a flow control instruction, configured to cause the peer node to alter a rate of transmission of the incoming data blocks over the link.

Abstract: A method for communication includes transmitting a sequence of outgoing data blocks from a network node over a communication link to a peer node, and receiving incoming data blocks from the peer node. A control field is added in a predefined location in each of the outgoing data blocks in the sequence by the network node. In at least a first subset of the outgoing data blocks in the sequence, the control field contains error control information, which is capable of causing the peer node to retransmit one or more of the incoming data blocks to the network node, while in at least a second subset of the outgoing data blocks in the sequence, disjoint from the first subset, the control field contains a flow control instruction, configured to cause the peer node to alter a rate of transmission of the incoming data blocks over the link.