Techniques for transmitting failure detection protocol packets

Abstract

Techniques are provided for processing of failure detection protocol (FDP) packets. Techniques are provided that assist a CPU of a network device in processing incoming FDP packets. The task of transmitting FDP packets from a network device is offloaded from the CPU of the network device and instead handled by another module of the network device. In this manner, the processing that the CPU of the network device has to perform for transmitting FDP packets for the various FDP sessions of the network device is reduced. This enables the network device to support newer FDPs with shorter periodic interval requirements.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims the benefit and priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 880,074 filed Jan. 11, 2007 entitled TIMING SENSITIVE PROTOCOL PACKET HARDWARE ASSIST, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.[0002]The present application also incorporates by reference for all purposes the entire contents of the following applications filed concurrently with the present application:[0003](1) U.S. Non-Provisional Application No. ______ (Atty. Docket No. 019959-003910US) titled TECHNIQUES FOR PROCESSING INCOMING FAILURE DETECTION PROTOCOL PACKETS;[0004](2) U.S. Non-Provisional Application No. ______ (Atty. Docket No. 019959-003920US) titled TECHNIQUES FOR DETECTING NON-RECEIPT OF FAULT DETECTION PROTOCOL PACKETS; and[0005](3) U.S. Non-Provisional Application No. _______(Atty. Docket No. 019959-003940US) titled TECHNIQUES FOR USING DUAL MEMORY STRUCTURES FOR PR...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques that assist in processing of failure detection protocol (FDP) packets. Techniques are provided that assist a CPU of a network device in processing incoming FDP packets. The task of transmitting FDP packets from a network device is offloaded from the CPU of the network device and instead handled by another module of the network device. In this manner, the processing that the CPU of the network device has to perform for transmitting FDP packets for the various FDP sessions of the network device is reduced. This enables the network device to support newer FDPs with shorter periodic interval requirements.

Problems solved by technology

For example, if a network device does not receive an FDP packet within a period of time associated with the FDP packet, then the network device may assume that there is a network failure somewhere in the network that prevented the expected FDP packet from reaching the network device.

However, due to the large periodic interval time values, the time required to detect network failures is also quite large (usually several seconds).

While this was acceptable in the past, it is no longer acceptable in today's larger and faster networks wherein a long failure detection time translates to large amounts of data being lost at today's fast networking speeds (e.g., at gigabit speeds).

While these new protocols reduce failure detection times, they create an undue burden on a network device that is configured to handle processing of the FDP packets.

However, processors in conventional network devices executing software for processing the FDP packets are unable to cope up with the processing of newer FDP packets.

As a result, conventional network devices are unable to handle and support the newer failure detection protocols.

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