Hardware Network Interface Per-Ring Resource Accounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

In modern computing environments, there is a need to efficiently manage and account for network and computing resource utilization across multiple systems sharing a network interface, particularly in scenarios where direct connection is not feasible, and existing methods lack effective tracking and management of resource usage by services, users, and containers.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a network interface card with multiple receive and send rings, each associated with counters that track packet processing, providing a hardware-based accounting scheme to monitor and manage resource utilization, allowing for efficient tracking and potential adjustments in traffic routing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If hardware-based counters are added to each receive ring to track packet processing, then measurement precision of resource utilization is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilization trackingVSAvoidnetwork interface structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the counter functionality directly into the network interface hardware structure. Each receive ring is equipped with dedicated hardware counters that are integrated with the ring's packet processing mechanism, allowing packet counts to be accumulated automatically without requiring external monitoring systems or complex software-based tracking mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The hardware counters automatically track and accumulate packet processing statistics for each receive ring without requiring external intervention. The counters self-manage the measurement process by continuously monitoring packet flow and updating their own values, eliminating the need for complex external measurement and accounting systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If per-ring hardware counters are implemented to enable accurate resource accounting, then productivity of resource management is improved, but loss of time in data processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource management efficiencyVSAvoiddata processing delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces software-based packet counting and resource tracking mechanisms with hardware-based counters integrated into the network interface. This substitution eliminates the need for CPU-intensive software processing to track resource utilization, allowing counters to operate at hardware speed and significantly improving resource management productivity without introducing processing delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS7623538B1Hardware-based network interface per-ring resource accounting

Publication Date: 2009.11.24 ORACLE AMERICAN INC

AI summary

Incoming/outgoing data packets to/from a network are processed by associated receive/send rings of a network interface. A plurality of counters, disposed in hardware, are each associated with particular receive/send rings. Each of the plurality of counters maintains a count of a number of data packets processed by an associated receive/send ring.