Fabric Protocol Data Unit Encapsulation for Ethernet Router Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Ethernet switches and routers face limitations in supporting large numbers of ports and high throughput in multi-processor networks like storage centers and data centers due to common bus architectures, leading to increased latency and power consumption from complex address translation operations across multiple intermediate stations.
Innovation Solution
An Ethernet bridge or router with a network fabric that generates a Fabric Protocol Data Unit (FPDU) with a header portion containing a destination descriptor, enabling efficient routing across the network fabric without modifying the payload, and using an additional protocol layer between the Physical and Data Link Layers to simplify address translation and reduce latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional Ethernet switches use common bus architectures to support multiple ports, then device connectivity is provided, but latency and power consumption increase due to complex address translation operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the Ethernet frame into two parts: the header is extracted and translated into a fabric address, while the payload is encapsulated in a tunnel protocol data unit. This segmentation allows the header to be processed separately for routing decisions, reducing the time each frame spends in the translation process and enabling parallel processing of multiple frames.
Solution Approach 2:
The ingress port performs address translation and fabric address assignment in advance before the frame enters the network fabric. By pre-translating the destination MAC address to a fabric address and encapsulating the frame with routing information, the patent eliminates the need for intermediate stations to perform complex address translation operations, thereby reducing end-to-end latency.
2Ease of operation
If conventional Ethernet switches perform complex address translation at every intermediate station, then routing decisions are made, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the address translation function from intermediate stations and concentrates it at the ingress port. The ingress port translates the destination MAC address to a fabric address and embeds this information in the tunnel header. Intermediate stations then only need to perform simple fabric address forwarding based on the tunnel header, dramatically reducing their processing power requirements and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The tunnel protocol data unit acts as an intermediary that carries the original Ethernet frame along with pre-computed routing information. This intermediary structure allows intermediate stations to forward frames using simple fabric address lookup without needing to interpret or translate MAC addresses, reducing their operational complexity and power consumption.
3Area of stationary object
If Ethernet frames are forwarded through multiple intermediate stations with address translation, then network coverage is extended, but delivery time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs address translation and encapsulation at the ingress port before the frame enters the network fabric. The tunnel header contains pre-computed fabric addresses that enable direct routing through the network fabric without requiring intermediate address translations. This preliminary action significantly reduces the time frames spend traversing the network, even as network coverage expands to support more ports.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the original Ethernet frame and encapsulates it within a tunnel protocol data unit that contains fabric routing information. This copied structure with embedded routing data allows the frame to be forwarded efficiently through multiple intermediate stations without requiring them to perform complex address translations, thereby maintaining fast delivery times across extended network coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides an Ethernet bridge or router comprising a network fabric adapted to provide interconnectivity to a plurality of Ethernet ports, each of the Ethernet ports being adapted to receive and/or transmit Ethernet frames, and wherein the Ethernet bridge or router further comprises an encapsulator connected to receive Ethernet Protocol Data Units from the Ethernet ports, wherein the encapsulator is operable to generate a Fabric Protocol Data Unit from a received Ethernet Protocol Data Unit, the Fabric Protocol Data Unit comprising a header portion, and a payload portion which comprises the Ethernet Protocol Data Unit concerned, and wherein the encapsulator is operable to transform Ethernet destination address information from the Ethernet Protocol Data Unit into a routing definition for the network fabric, and to include this routing definition in the header portion of the Fabric Protocol Data Unit. Also provided is a method of data delivery across a network.