Abstract: A device may receive a data unit and identify a class of the received data unit. The device may further obtain a service tag based on the class of the data unit and send the service tag and the data unit to a service module in the network device. The service module may perform a service for the data unit.

Abstract: A device may include logic configured to receive a packet, identify a flow associated with the packet in a flow table, and identify a rate limit associated with the flow in the flow table. A current rate associated with the flow may be calculated based on the packet. It may be determined whether the current rate associated with the flow exceeds the rate limit associated with the flow. If so, the packet may be discarded or tagged as “over limit.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a forwarding module that is configured to receive a group of first data packets. The forwarding module is configured to modify a data flow value in response to receiving each first data packet. The forwarding module is also configured to store each first data packet in a first output queue based on the data flow value not crossing a data flow threshold after being modified. Furthermore, the forwarding module is configured to receive a second data packet. The forwarding module is configured to modify the data flow value in response to receiving the second data packet, such that the data flow value crosses the data flow threshold. The forwarding module is configured to store the second data packet in a second output queue based on the data flow value having crossed the data flow threshold.

Abstract: A device may include polling logic configured to store a table of received addresses, sequentially receive sensor data from each address in the table via a serial data bus, store the sensor data in a memory, receive an address from a processor via a high speed data bus, and provide stored sensor data from the memory to the processor via a parallel data bus.

Abstract: In one embodiment, edge devices can be configured to be coupled to a multi-stage switch fabric and peripheral processing devices. The edge devices and the multi-stage switch fabric can collectively define a single logical entity. A first edge device from the edge devices can be configured to be coupled to a first peripheral processing device from the peripheral processing devices. The second edge device from the edge devices can be configured to be coupled to a second peripheral processing device from the peripheral processing devices. The first edge device can be configured such that virtual resources including a first virtual resource can be defined at the first peripheral processing device. A network management module coupled to the edge devices and configured to provision the virtual resources such that the first virtual resource can be migrated from the first peripheral processing device to the second peripheral processing device.

Abstract: A device may receive a data unit at a line interface of a network device, convey the data unit to a first component in the line interface, update a flow table in the first component based on the data unit, send a message to a second component in the network device, the message describing the update to the flow table, and forward the data unit from the first component to another line interface in the network device.

Abstract: A data processing unit includes a chassis configured to contain a line card. The chassis defines, at least in part, a portion of a first flow pathway and a portion of a second flow pathway. The chassis is configured such that a first portion of a gas can flow within the first flow pathway between an intake region and the first end portion of the line card such that the first portion of the gas flows across a first end portion of the line card in a first direction. The chassis is configured such that a second portion of the gas can flow within the second flow pathway between the intake region and a second end portion of the line card such that the second portion of the gas flows across the second end portion of the line card in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A device provides a flow table. The device receives a data unit, determines a data flow associated with the data unit, determines whether the flow table includes an entry corresponding to the data flow, determines a current utilization of a group of output ports of the device, selects an output port, of the group of output ports, for the data flow based on the current utilization of the group of output ports when the flow table does not store an entry corresponding to the data flow, and stores the data unit in a queue associated with the selected output port.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a network management module. The network management module is configured to send a request for power output data from a first network element having a first power supply configured to be coupled to a first power outlet, and a second power supply configured to be coupled to a second power outlet. The network management module is configured to receive a first confirmation from the first network element that the first power supply and the second power supply are receiving power. The network management module is configured to send a request to disable a third power outlet and to receive, after sending the request to disable the third power outlet, a second confirmation from the first network element that the first power supply and the second power supply are receiving power. The network management module is configured to define a power distribution table after receiving the second confirmation, the power distribution table designating the third power outlet as unused.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a shared memory buffer including a lead memory bank and a write multiplexing module configured to send a leading segment from a set of segments to the lead memory bank. The set of segments includes bit values from a set of variable-sized cells. The write multiplexing module further configured to send each segment from the set of segments identified as a trailing segment to a portion of the shared memory mutually exclusive from the lead memory bank.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a flow control module configured to receive a first data packet from an output queue of a stage of a multi-stage switch at a first rate when an available capacity of the output queue crosses a first threshold. The flow control module is configured to receive a second data packet from the output queue of the stage of the multi-stage switch at a second rate when the available capacity of the output queue crosses a second threshold. The flow control module configured to send a flow control signal to an edge device of the multi-stage switch from which the first data packet or the second data packet entered the multi-stage switch.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a processing module, disposed within a first switch fabric element, configured to detect a second switch fabric element having a routing module when the second switch fabric element is operatively coupled to the first switch fabric element. The processing module is configured to define a virtual processing module configured to be operatively coupled to the second switch fabric element. The virtual processing module is configured to receive a request from the second switch fabric element for forwarding information and the virtual processing module is configured to send the forwarding information to the routing module.

Abstract: A system includes a cable having a first end portion, a second end portion and a cable display module mechanically coupled to the first end portion of the cable. The cable has at least one optical fiber extending through the cable between the first end portion and the second end portion. The at least one optical fiber is configured to optically couple a first chassis with a second chassis when the first end portion of the cable is mechanically coupled to the first chassis and the second end portion of the cable is mechanically coupled to the second chassis. The cable display module is configured to be electrically coupled to the first chassis when the first end portion of the cable is mechanically coupled to the first chassis such that the cable display module receives from the first chassis an electrical signal representing an identifier associated with the second chassis.

Abstract: A device may receive a data unit at a line interface of a network device, convey the data unit to a first component in the line interface, update a flow table in the first component based on the data unit, send a message to a second component in the network device, the message describing the update to the flow table, and forward the data unit from the first component to another line interface in the network device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a packet generation module that has a set of general purpose processing modules and is configured to define a test packet configured to emulate at least a portion of network traffic. The apparatus also includes a switch device configured to receive the test packet from the packet generation module. The switch device is configured to multi-cast the test packet via a set of ports of the switch device to a target entity based on a routing policy.

Abstract: A device may include multi-bank static random access memory (SRAM) logic that receives multiple addresses from a packet processor, and provides the multiple addresses to multiple SRAMs. The SRAM logic also reads intermediate data and final data from the multiple SRAMs using the provided multiple addresses, provide a next address to the multiple SRAMs for each of the intermediate data, and transmits each of the final data to the packet processor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a shared memory buffer including a lead memory bank and a write multiplexing module configured to send a leading segment from a set of segments to the lead memory bank. The set of segments includes bit values from a set of variable-sized cells. The write multiplexing module further configured to send each segment from the set of segments identified as a trailing segment to a portion of the shared memory mutually exclusive from the lead memory bank.

Abstract: A front-to-back cooling system allows cooling of an apparatus containing two orthogonal sets of modules. Each set of modules is independently cooled. A vertical set of modules is cooled with vertical air flow across the modules that enters from a front of the apparatus and exhausts from a back of the apparatus. A horizontal set of modules is cooled with horizontal front-to-back air flow. When the horizontal set of modules is at the front of the apparatus, a plenum extending exterior to the vertical set of modules allows exhausting horizontally flowing air to the rear of the apparatus. When the horizontal set of modules is at the rear of the apparatus, a plenum extending exterior to the vertical set of modules allows moving air from the front of the apparatus to a chamber holding the horizontal modules.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system includes a first switch fabric device, a second switch fabric device, a first access switch operatively coupled to the first switch fabric device by a first cable, and a second access switch operatively coupled to the second switch fabric device by a second cable. The second access switch is operatively coupled to the first access switch by a third cable. The first access switch is configured to send data to the first switch fabric device via the first cable. The first access switch is configured to send data to the second switch fabric device via the third cable, the second access switch, and the second cable.

Abstract: A front-to-back cooling system allows cooling of an apparatus containing two orthogonal sets of modules. Each set of modules is independently cooled. A vertical set of modules is cooled with vertical air flow across the modules that enters from a front of the apparatus and exhausts from a back of the apparatus. A horizontal set of modules is cooled with horizontal front-to-back air flow. When the horizontal set of modules is at the front of the apparatus, a plenum extending exterior to the vertical set of modules allows exhausting horizontally flowing air to the rear of the apparatus. When the horizontal set of modules is at the rear of the apparatus, a plenum extending exterior to the vertical set of modules allows moving air from the front of the apparatus to a chamber holding the horizontal modules.