Abstract: The distributed switch may include a plurality of chips (i.e., sub-switches) on a switch module. These sub-switches may receive from a computing device connected to a Tx/Rx port a multicast data frame (e.g., an Ethernet frame) that designates a plurality of different destinations. Instead of simply using one egress connection interface to forward the copies of the data frame to each of the destinations sequentially, the sub-switch may use a plurality of a connection interfaces to transfer copies of the multicast data frame simultaneously. The port that receives the multicast data frame can borrow the connection interfaces (and associated hardware such as buffers) assigned to these other ports to transmit copies of the multicast data frame simultaneously.

Abstract: A system to improve a Converged Enhanced Ethernet network may include a controller having a computer processor connected to a layer 2 endpoint buffer. The system may also include a manager executing on the controller to monitor the layer 2 endpoint buffer by determining buffer data packet occupancy and/or rate of change in the buffer data packet occupancy. The system may further include a reporter to notify a congestion source of the layer 2 endpoint buffer based upon the buffer data packet occupancy and/or rate of change in the buffer data packet occupancy.

Abstract: A method and circuit for implementing electronic chip identification (ECID) exchange for network security in an interconnect system, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. Each interconnect chip includes an ECID for the interconnect chip, each ECID is unique and is permanently stored on each interconnect chip. Each interconnect chip sends predefined exchange identification (EXID) messages including the ECID across links to other interconnect chips in the interconnect system. Each interconnect chip compares a received EXID with a system list for the interconnect system to verify validity of the sending interconnect chip.

Abstract: A network fabric may divide a physical connection into a plurality of VLANs as defined by IEEE 802.1Q. Moreover, many network fabrics use Priority Flow Control to identify and segregate network traffic based on different traffic classes or priorities. Current routing protocols define only eight traffic classes. In contrast, a network fabric may contain thousands of unique VLANs. When network congestion occurs, network devices (e.g., switches, bridges, routers, servers, etc.) can negotiate to pause the network traffic associated with one of the different traffic classes. Pausing the data packets associated with a single traffic class may also stop the data packets associated with thousands of VLANs. The embodiments disclosed herein permit a network fabric to individually pause VLANs rather than entire traffic classes.

Abstract: IEEE 802.1Q and Enhanced Transmission Selection provide only eight different traffic classes that may be used to control bandwidth in a particular physical connection (or link). Instead of relying only on these eight traffic classes to manage bandwidth, the embodiments discussed herein disclose using an Enhanced Transmission Selection scheduler that permits a network device to set the bandwidth for an individual virtual LAN. Allocating bandwidth in a port based on a virtual LAN ID permits a network device to allocate bandwidth to, e.g., millions of unique virtual LANs. Thus, this technique may increase the granular control of the network fabric and its performance.

Abstract: A method for hybrid arrival-occupancy based congestion management includes increasing a recent arrivals counter associated with a data flow from one or more sources in response to receiving a data packet from one of the sources and storing the data packet in a buffer including multiple storage units. The method includes determining if a buffer is congested, randomly selecting an occupied unit of the buffer and determining the source of the packet stored in the occupied unit of the buffer, generating a congestion notification message, sending the congestion notification message to the source of the packet stored in the occupied unit of the buffer if the recent arrivals counter exceeds a threshold value and decreasing the recent arrivals counter associated with the source of the packet stored in the occupied unit of the buffer and discarding the congestion notification message if the recent arrivals counter has a zero value.

Abstract: A method for buffer occupancy based congestion management includes receiving, by a computing device, a data stream including a plurality of packets from a plurality of sources and storing the packets in a buffer that includes multiple storage units. The method also includes determining if the buffer is congested, responsive to determining that the buffer is congested randomly selecting an occupied unit of the buffer and determining the source of the packet stored in the occupied unit of the buffer and sending a congestion notification message to the source of the packet stored in the occupied unit of the buffer.

Abstract: A method for hierarchical occupancy based congestion management includes receiving, by a computing device, a plurality of data flows, each of the plurality of data flows is received from a source and includes a plurality of data packets and storing the plurality of data packets in a buffer including multiple storage units. The method includes determining if the buffer is congested, responsive to determining the buffer is congested randomly selecting at least two occupied units of the buffer and identifying a source of each of the data packets stored in the occupied units of the buffer and generating a congestion notification message. The method also includes comparing a selection criterion associated with each identified source to determine which identified source has a higher selection criterion and sending the congestion notification message to the identified source with the higher selection criterion.

Abstract: A system for hierarchical occupancy based congestion management includes a buffer embodied in a computer readable storage medium including a plurality of buffer units for storing packets of a data flow received from sources. The system includes a buffer manager that stores information about the packets stored in the buffer, including a selection criterion associated with each of the plurality of sources and a congestion estimator that monitors a congestion level in the buffer. The system also includes a occupancy sampler that randomly selects at least two occupied buffer units from the plurality of buffer units and identifies the source of the packet stored in each of the occupied buffer units and a congestion notification message generator that generates a congestion notification message; wherein if the congestion level in the buffer exceeds a threshold value the congestion notification message is sent to the identified source with a higher selection criteria.

Abstract: Systems and methods to multicast data frames are provided. A particular apparatus includes a plurality of computing nodes and a distributed virtual bridge. The distributed virtual bridge includes a plurality of bridge elements coupled to the plurality of computing nodes. The plurality of bridge elements are configured to forward a copy of a multicast data frame to the plurality of computing nodes using group member information associated with addresses of the plurality of server computers. A controlling bridge coupled to the plurality of bridge elements is configured to communicate the group member information to the plurality of bridge elements.

Abstract: Systems and methods to multicast data frames are provided. A particular apparatus includes a plurality of computing nodes and a distributed virtual bridge. The distributed virtual bridge includes a plurality of bridge elements coupled to the plurality of computing nodes. The plurality of bridge elements are configured to forward a copy of a multicast data frame to the plurality of computing nodes using group member information associated with addresses of the plurality of server computers. A controlling bridge coupled to the plurality of bridge elements is configured to communicate the group member information to the plurality of bridge elements.

Abstract: A method and circuit for implementing a network manager quarantine mode in an interconnect system, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. A respective network manager on a source interconnect chip and a destination interconnect chip sends end-to-end (ETE) heartbeats on each path between the source and destination interconnect chips. Each network manager maintains a heartbeat table with counters to track each path to each destination interconnect chip. When a first network manager of a first interconnect chip detects a change from at least one valid path to no working paths for a second interconnect chip of the interconnect chips, the quarantine mode is established for a programmable quarantine time interval and all paths are prevented from advertising good heartbeats during the quarantine time interval.

Abstract: A method and circuit for implementing electronic chip identification (ECID) exchange for network security in an interconnect system, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. Each interconnect chip includes an ECID for the interconnect chip, each ECID is unique and is permanently stored on each interconnect chip. Each interconnect chip sends predefined exchange identification (EXID) messages including the ECID across links to other interconnect chips in the interconnect system. Each interconnect chip compares a received EXID with a system list for the interconnect system to verify validity of the sending interconnect chip.

Abstract: Systems and methods to multicast data frames are provided. A particular apparatus includes a plurality of computing nodes and a distributed virtual bridge. The distributed virtual bridge includes a plurality of bridge elements coupled to the plurality of computing nodes. The plurality of bridge elements are configured to forward a copy of a multicast data frame to the plurality of computing nodes using group member information associated with addresses of the plurality of server computers. A controlling bridge coupled to the plurality of bridge elements is configured to communicate the group member information to the plurality of bridge elements.

Abstract: A method and circuit for implementing end-to-end credit management for enhanced large packet reassembly in an interconnect system, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. A transport layer provides buffering and credit control for a super packet received from a source device. A source transport layer sends an End-to-End (ETE) credit request message to a destination transport layer for an outstanding super packet transmission to a destination device. The destination transport layer grants credit to allow at least one source to send a super packet to the destination. The source transport layer fragments the super packet into multiple packets and sends all packets of the super packet only responsive to the credit request being granted by the destination transport layer that is needed to send all packets of the super packet.

Abstract: A network on chip (‘NOC’) with guaranteed minimum bandwidth for virtual communications channels, the NOC including: integrated processor (‘IP’) blocks, routers, memory communications controllers, and network interface controllers, each IP block adapted to a router through a memory communications controller and a network interface controller, each memory communications controller controlling communications between an IP block and memory, each network interface controller controlling inter-IP block communications through routers, each router coupled for data communications with at least one other router through at least one link, each link including a wire bus wide enough to accommodate simultaneously, for transmission in one direction on the link, all or part of a data switching packet, each router implementing two or more virtual communications channels, each virtual communications channel characterized by a communication type, each virtual communications channel guaranteed at least a minimum bandwidth for da

Abstract: A method and circuit for implementing control using a single path in a multiple path interconnect system, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. Control TL messages include control information to be transferred between a respective source transport layer of a source interconnect chip and a destination transport layer of a destination interconnect chip. Each transport layer (TL) includes a TL message port identifying a port used to send and receive control TL messages for a pair of source TL and destination TL. The respective TL message port of the pair of source TL and destination TL defines the single path used for control messages.

Abstract: A network on chip (‘NOC’) with guaranteed minimum bandwidth for virtual communications channels, the NOC including: integrated processor (‘IP’) blocks, routers, memory communications controllers, and network interface controllers, each IP block adapted to a router through a memory communications controller and a network interface controller, each memory communications controller controlling communications between an IP block and memory, each network interface controller controlling inter-IP block communications through routers, each router coupled for data communications with at least one other router through at least one link, each link including a wire bus wide enough to accommodate simultaneously, for transmission in one direction on the link, all or part of a data switching packet, each router implementing two or more virtual communications channels, each virtual communications channel characterized by a communication type, each virtual communications channel guaranteed at least a minimum bandwidth for da

Abstract: A method is provided for processing a command issued by a processor over a bus. The method includes (1) transmitting the command to a remote node to obtain access to data required to complete the command; (2) receiving from the remote node a response packet including a header and a header CRC; (3) validating the response packet including the header and the header CRC; (4) loading a timer to run until data required to complete the command is received or the timer expires; and (5) before receiving the data required to complete the command, arranging to return the data to the processor over the bus.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing commands issued by a processor over a bus. The method includes the steps of (1) transmitting the command to a remote node to obtain access to data required to complete the command; (2) receiving from the remote node a response packet including a header and a header CRC; (3) validating the response packet based on the header CRC; and (4) before receiving the data required to complete the command, arranging to return the data to the processor over the bus.