Abstract: A method for communication includes, in a network node that includes a plurality of ports, specifying for a given destination address at least one Adaptive Routing (AR) group. The at least one AR group includes two or more ports over which packets destined to the given destination address are to be adaptively routed. A packet destined to the given destination address is received at the network node, via one of the ports serving as an ingress port. An egress port is adaptively selected for the packet, from the ports in the at least one AR group but excluding the ingress port over which the packet was received. The packet is routed to the selected egress port.

Abstract: A method for communication, includes routing unicast data packets among nodes in a network using respective Layer-3 addresses that are uniquely assigned to each of the nodes. Respective Layer-2 unicast addresses are assigned to the nodes in accordance with an algorithmic mapping of the respective Layer-3 addresses. The unicast data packets are forwarded within subnets of the network using the assigned Layer-2 addresses.

Abstract: A method for communication, includes routing unicast data packets among nodes in a network using respective Layer-3 addresses that are uniquely assigned to each of the nodes. Respective Layer-2 unicast addresses are assigned to the nodes in accordance with an algorithmic mapping of the respective Layer-3 addresses. The unicast data packets are forwarded within subnets of the network using the assigned Layer-2 addresses.

Abstract: A method in a network element that includes multiple interfaces for connecting to a communication network includes receiving via an ingress interface packets that are not allowed to undergo re-routing and that are addressed to a destination via a first egress interface. The packets are forwarded via the first egress interface when there is a valid path from the first egress interface to the destination. When there is no valid path from the first egress interface to the destination, a second egress interface is selected from a group of multiple egress interfaces that have respective paths to the destination and are assigned to packets for which re-routing is allowed, and the packets are forwarded via the second egress interface until recovering a path to the destination.

Abstract: A method in a network element includes processing input packets using a set of two or more functions that are defined over parameters of the input packets. Each function in the set produces respective interim actions applied to the input packets and the entire set produces respective end-to-end actions applied to the input packets. An end-to-end mapping, which maps the parameters of at least some of the input packets directly to the corresponding end-to-end actions, is cached in the network element. The end-to-end mapping is queried with the parameters of a new input packet. Upon finding the parameters of the new input packet in the end-to-end mapping, an end-to-end action mapped to the found parameters is applied to the new input packet, without processing the new input packet using the set of functions.

Abstract: A method in a communication network includes defining a root congestion condition for a network switch if the switch creates congestion in the network while switches downstream are congestion free, and a victim congestion condition if the switch creates the congestion as a result of one or more other congested switches downstream. A buffer fill level in a first switch, created by network traffic, is monitored. A binary notification is received from a second switch, which is connected to the first switch. A decision whether the first switch or the second switch is in a root or a victim congestion condition is made, based on both the buffer fill level and the binary notification. A network congestion control procedure is applied based on the decided congestion condition.

Abstract: A method for communication, includes routing unicast data packets among nodes in a network using respective Layer-3 addresses that are uniquely assigned to each of the nodes. Respective Layer-2 unicast addresses are assigned to the nodes in accordance with an algorithmic mapping of the respective Layer-3 addresses. The unicast data packets are forwarded within subnets of the network using the assigned Layer-2 addresses.

Abstract: A method for data storage includes mapping a queue pair (QP) of a channel adapter to a specified Fiber Channel (FC) exchange for communication with a storage device. Upon receiving at the channel adapter from a host computer a storage command directed to the storage device, the storage command is executed by transmitting data packets over a switched network from the channel adapter to the storage device using the specified exchange and performing a remote direct memory access (RDMA) operation on the channel adapter using the mapped QP.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a Content-Addressable Memory (CAM) and packet processing circuitry. The packet processing circuitry is configured to store in respective regions of the CAM multiple Access Control Lists (ACLs) that are defined for respective packet types, to classify an input packet to a respective packet type selected from the packet types, to identify a region holding an ACL defined for the selected packet type, and to process the input packet in accordance with the ACL stored in the identified region.

Abstract: A method for communication, in a network element that includes multiple ports, includes buffering data packets entering the network element via the ports in input buffers that are respectively associated with the ports. Storage of the data packets is shared among the input buffers by evaluating a condition related to the ports, and, when the condition is met, moving at least one data packet from a first input buffer of a first port to a second input buffer of a second port, different from the first port. Respective output ports, via which the buffered data packets are to exit the network element, are selected from among the ports. The buffered data packets are forwarded to the selected output ports.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a plurality of switch ports, each switch port including one or more port buffers for buffering data that traverses the switch port. A switch fabric is coupled to transfer the data between the switch ports. A switch control unit is configured to reassign at least one port buffer of a given switch port to buffer a part of the data that does not enter or exit the apparatus via the given switch port, and to cause the switch fabric to forward the part of the data to a destination switch port via the at least one reassigned port buffer.

Abstract: A method for communication includes routing a first packet, which belongs to a given packet flow, over a first routing path through a communication network. A second packet, which follows the first packet in the given packet flow, is routed using a time-bounded Adaptive Routing (AR) mode, by evaluating a time gap between the first and second packets, routing the second packet over the first routing path if the time gap does not exceed a predefined threshold, and, if the time gap exceeds the predefined threshold, selecting a second routing path through the communication network that is potentially different from the first routing path, and routing the second packet over the second routing path.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a Content-Addressable Memory (CAM) and packet processing circuitry. The packet processing circuitry is configured to store in respective regions of the CAM multiple Access Control Lists (ACLs) that are defined for respective packet types, to classify an input packet to a respective packet type selected from the packet types, to identify a region holding an ACL defined for the selected packet type, and to process the input packet in accordance with the ACL stored in the identified region.

Abstract: A method for communication, in a network element that includes multiple ports, includes buffering data packets entering the network element via the ports in input buffers that are respectively associated with the ports. Storage of the data packets is shared among the input buffers by evaluating a condition related to the ports, and, when the condition is met, moving at least one data packet from a first input buffer of a first port to a second input buffer of a second port, different from the first port. Respective output ports, via which the buffered data packets are to exit the network element, are selected from among the ports. The buffered data packets are forwarded to the selected output ports.

Abstract: A method for communication includes routing a first packet, which belongs to a given packet flow, over a first routing path through a communication network. A second packet, which follows the first packet in the given packet flow, is routed using a time-bounded Adaptive Routing (AR) mode, by evaluating a time gap between the first and second packets, routing the second packet over the first routing path if the time gap does not exceed a predefined threshold, and, if the time gap exceeds the predefined threshold, selecting a second routing path through the communication network that is potentially different from the first routing path, and routing the second packet over the second routing path.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a plurality of switch ports, each switch port including one or more port buffers for buffering data that traverses the switch port. A switch fabric is coupled to transfer the data between the switch ports. A switch control unit is configured to reassign at least one port buffer of a given switch port to buffer a part of the data that does not enter or exit the apparatus via the given switch port, and to cause the switch fabric to forward the part of the data to a destination switch port via the at least one reassigned port buffer.

Abstract: A method for data storage includes mapping a queue pair (QP) of a channel adapter to a specified Fibre Channel (FC) exchange for communication with a storage device. Upon receiving at the channel adapter from a host computer a storage command directed to the storage device, the storage command is executed by transmitting data packets over a switched network from the channel adapter to the storage device using the specified exchange and performing a remote direct memory access (RDMA) operation on the channel adapter using the mapped QP.