Shared Memory Block Configuration

Abstract

A network switch device is described. The network switch device includes a plurality of processor devices configured to perform different respective functions of the network switch device, a block ofshared memory having a plurality of single port memory banks, and a memory controller configured to allocate respective sets of banks among the single port memory banks to processor devices among theplurality of processor devices, and determine respective configurations of the sets of memory banks as one of i) a single port configuration in which respective single port memory banks support a single read or write memory operation to a memory location in a memory access cycle, and ii) a virtual multi-port configuration in which respective single port memory banks support two or more concurrentread or write memory operations to a same memory location, based on memory access requirements of the corresponding processor device.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 712,066, entitled "Flexible Memory Design for Shared Memory," filed July 30, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference. into this article. technical field [0003] The present disclosure relates generally to communication networks, and more particularly to configurable shared memory suitable for network devices. Background technique [0004] The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. No aspect of the work of the presently named inventors within the scope described in this Background section, nor the description that is considered prior art at the time of filing, is admitted to be prior art, either expressly or implicitly, with respect to this disclosure . [0005] Some network devices, such as network switches, bridges, routers,...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, compared to single-port memories, dual-port memories and multi-port memories (regardless of whether the ports are physical ports or virtual ports) generally have higher cost and / or complexity and / or reduced capacity, thus, in some scenarios In particular, the use of dual-port and multi-port memory is less desirable, especially when the additional capabilities of dual-port and multi-port memory are not required for a particular application

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