Egress Profile Identifier for Ethernet Frame Classification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional network architectures lack an efficient means to assign non-unique profile identifiers for egress flows, leading to restrictive port-based assignments or a large number of flow-based rules required to classify a large number of unique flows through an egress logic engine.
Innovation Solution
Assigning an egress profile identifier to an Ethernet frame based on its egress connection identifier (eXid) tag, which allows mapping internal class of service and congestion markers to priority and external congestion markers, enabling efficient egress policy implementation with reduced rule requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If port-based assignment is used to assign egress profile identifiers, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates because it cannot handle a large number of unique flows efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the flow classification process into two stages: first classifying flows into a limited number of egress profiles at ingress, then using those profile identifiers for egress processing. This segmentation reduces the complexity of egress rules while maintaining the ability to handle many unique flows through the intermediate profiling stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary classification at the ingress logic engine by assigning egress profile identifiers to flows before they reach the egress stage. This preliminary action reduces the workload at egress, allowing the system to handle many unique flows without requiring a large number of egress rules.
2Adaptability or versatility
If flow-based rules are used to classify a large number of unique flows at egress, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases due to the large number of rules required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the classification task into ingress profiling (creating egress profile identifiers) and egress processing (using those identifiers). This segmentation moves the complex classification work to ingress, reducing egress rule requirements while maintaining adaptability for handling many unique flows.
Solution Approach 2:
The egress profile identifier acts as an intermediary between the ingress flow classification and egress processing. Instead of directly mapping many unique flows to egress parameters, the system uses the profile identifier as an intermediate representation, reducing the complexity of egress rules.
3Device complexity
If restrictive port-based assignment is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates because it cannot efficiently process a large number of unique flows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary classification and assigns egress profile identifiers at the ingress logic engine before flows reach the egress stage. This preliminary action enables efficient processing at egress by using the pre-assigned profile identifiers, improving productivity without requiring complex egress rules.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a method may include assigning one egress profile identifier out of a plurality of egress profile identifiers to an Ethernet frame based at least on an egress connection identifier (eXid) tag of the Ethernet frame at a traffic manager, receiving the Ethernet frame at a switching element from the traffic manager, receiving metadata at the switching element from the traffic manager, the metadata comprising the assigned egress profile identifier, an internal class of service marker, and an internal congestion marker, and mapping the internal class of service marker and the internal congestion marker to a priority marker and an external congestion marker in the Ethernet frame based on the egress profile identifier.