Abstract: A plurality of work requests may be received from a plurality of clients. A plurality of credits may be distributed among the plurality of clients. The plurality of credits may be distributed in response to a refreshed credit cycle. At least one of the work requests to be processed may be selected based on an amount of the credits available for the clients. An amount of credits to distribute to the clients may be determined in response to the refreshed credit cycle based on an amount of the credits used to process the at least one work request during a last credit cycle compared to a system credit capacity of the system.

Abstract: A plurality of work requests may be received from a plurality of clients. A plurality of credits may be distributed among the plurality of clients. The plurality of credits may be distributed in response to a refreshed credit cycle. At least one of the work requests to be processed may be selected based on an amount of the credits available for the clients. An amount of credits to distribute to the clients may be determined in response to the refreshed credit cycle based on an amount of the credits used to process the at least one work request during a last credit cycle compared to a system credit capacity of the system.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are provided involving queue management. One embodiment includes a computing device having a priority aware queue. In this embodiment, the device includes a queue having a number of counters associated therewith to monitor a number of items each having a classification level associated therewith. The device also includes computer executable instructions to review each of the number of counters to determine whether to discard the item based upon whether at least one of the counters indicates that a higher classification item is being held in the queue.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for sending response messages based on pending requests. A request message identifying a data packet may be received. A pending request structure may be used to determine output queues that are in need of the data packet identified in the request message. A response message may be sent indicating if the request message is being refused based on the output queues.

Abstract: Network devices and methods are provided involving a support chip in association with network chips. One embodiment includes a network device having a processor, a high speed interconnect, and a number of network chips coupled to one another through the high speed interconnect. The number of network chips include a conduit port which can be selectively chosen to exchange packets, received to the number of network chips, with the processor. The support chip is coupled to the number of network chips in association with selecting a conduit port on one of the number of network chips to exchange packets with the processor.

Abstract: A method for allocating a resource among a plurality of consumers of the resource is described herein. For each consumer of the plurality of consumers, a configurable weight associated with the consumer is determined. For each consumer of the plurality of consumers, credits assigned to the consumer at a first interval of a plurality of variable intervals are determined. The credits may be assigned in proportion to the configurable weight associated with the consumer. A consumer is selected for servicing based on the credits of the consumer. The selected consumer is serviced.

Abstract: Buffer management in a network device. A new data packet is received at a packet buffer queue of the network switch, wherein the new data packet is a portion of a burst block. If the packet buffer queue is full, a data packet from within the packet buffer queue that is not a last sequential data packet of a burst block is dropped.

Abstract: A method for allocating a resource among a plurality of consumers of the resource is described herein. For each consumer of the plurality of consumers, a configurable weight associated with the consumer is determined. For each consumer of the plurality of consumers, credits assigned to the consumer at a first interval of a plurality of variable intervals are determined. The credits may be assigned in proportion to the configurable weight associated with the consumer. A consumer is selected for servicing based on the credits of the consumer. The selected consumer is serviced.

Abstract: Network devices and methods are provided for device monitoring. One embodiment includes a network device having a processor, a high speed interconnect and a number of network chips. The number of network chips are coupled to one another through the high speed interconnect. The number of network chips have a conduit port which can be selectively chosen to exchange packets, received to any network chip, with the processor.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided for moving packets on a network device. One method includes receiving packets to a number of network chips, the number of network chips having a conduit port which can be selectively chosen to exchange packets with a processor responsible for processing packets. The method includes adding data for additional functionality to certain packets. Adding data includes encapsulating the certain packets to maintain an appearance of a certain packet format.

Abstract: A network device is provided which can include logic associated with the operations of a data communications protocol stack. The logic can operate to receive a packet to the network device and apply a first error checking technique, having a first modification complexity, to a header of the packet. The logic can apply a second error checking technique, having a second modification complexity that is greater than the first modification complexity, to a body of the packet. A first verification key can be provided to a first header associated with the packet and a second verification key, having a different modification complexity from the first verification key, can be provided for a second header associated with the packet.

Abstract: A method for testing a network device having modules for receiving and sending data packets in a network includes generating in the network device at least one internal data structure associated with a data packet received by the network device from the network. A predefined action on the network device is then preformed responsive to the internal data structure indicating that the data packet satisfies a predefined condition.

Abstract: Buffer management in a network device. A new data packet is received at a packet buffer queue of the network switch, wherein the new data packet is a portion of a burst block. If the packet buffer queue is full, a data packet from within the packet buffer queue that is not a last sequential data packet of a burst block is dropped.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for arbitrating for access to a group of shared resources that are communicating with multiple requesters over a shared communications link while minimizing latency and maximizing link utilization is applicable to any situation where more than one device communicates with more than one resource over a single communication link and where the cycle time of the resource is greater than the time the link is needed for the transfer by the resource. The invention maintains information about the state of the shared resources. This allows the provision of an arbitration algorithm that uses the shared communications link more efficiently. A shared resource typically requires some set-up time before transferring its data and also requires some recovery time after its data are transferred before another request may be processed.