Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method for avoiding memory bandwidth utilization during packet processing. The packet processing core receives a plurality of packets. The packet processing core identifies the packet's quality of service (QoS) descriptor. The packet processing core determines that at least one packet should be moved to an off-chip packet stored prior to the packet being transmitted to the egress port. The packet processing core bases that determination, at least in part, on the packet's QoS descriptor. The packet processing core moves the determined packets to the off-chip packet store. The packet processing core determines that at least one packet should not be moved to the off-chip packet store prior to the packet being transmitted to the egress port. This determination is also made, at least in part, based on the packet's QoS descriptor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method for avoiding memory bandwidth utilization during packet processing. The packet processing core receives a plurality of packets. The packet processing core identifies the packet's quality of service (QoS) descriptor. The packet processing core determines that at least one packet should be moved to an off-chip packet stored prior to the packet being transmitted to the egress port. The packet processing core bases that determination, at least in part, on the packet's QoS descriptor. The packet processing core moves the determined packets to the off-chip packet store. The packet processing core determines that at least one packet should not be moved to the off-chip packet store prior to the packet being transmitted to the egress port. This determination is also made, at least in part, based on the packet's QoS descriptor.

Abstract: A hierarchical pipelined distributed scheduling traffic manager includes multiple hierarchical levels to perform hierarchical winner selection and propagation in a pipeline including selecting and propagating winner queues of a lower level to subsequent levels to determine one final winning queue. The winner selection and propagation is performed in parallel between the levels to reduce the time required in selecting the final winning queue. In some embodiments, the hierarchical traffic manager is separated into multiple separate sliced hierarchical traffic managers to distributively process the traffic.

Abstract: A hierarchical pipelined distributed scheduling traffic manager includes multiple hierarchical levels to perform hierarchical winner selection and propagation in a pipeline including selecting and propagating winner queues of a lower level to subsequent levels to determine one final winning queue. The winner selection and propagation is performed in parallel between the levels to reduce the time required in selecting the final winning queue. In some embodiments, the hierarchical traffic manager is separated into multiple separate sliced hierarchical traffic managers to distributively process the traffic.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a logic coupled to receive a number of data packets. The logic comprises an execution unit to generate a request for routing data for a data packet of the number of data packets. The logic also includes a memory lookup engine coupled to the execution unit and a local memory. The local memory is to store routing data for the number of data packets. The memory lookup engine is to receive the request and to update the local memory upon determining that the routing data for the data packet is not found in the local memory. Additionally, the logic includes a communication logic coupled to the memory lookup engine. The communication logic is to transmit an update message to a remote logic. The update message is to cause the remote logic to update a remote memory, wherein the update message is transmitted based on a low priority update upon determining that a buffer for update messages of the remote memory is full when the local memory is updated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for replicating packet data within a network element are described herein. In one embodiment, a method includes storing packet data within a storage element, maintaining a transmit count value of the storage element, determining a release count value of the storage element, comparing the transmit count value and the release count value, and de-allocating the storage element in response to comparing the transmit count value and the release count value.