PHY-MAC Interconnection Remapping with Traffic Buffering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for dynamically reassigning links between Physical (PHY) and Media Access Control (MAC) devices in network systems often result in significant packet loss during reconfiguration, which is undesirable, especially during hardware upgrades or energy management operations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that buffer egress traffic and use controlled sequences of messages, such as 'Remote Fault' or 'Pause' messages, to minimize packet loss by interrupting transmission, validating connections, and rerouting traffic through a reconfigurable crossbar, allowing seamless switching between PHY devices connected to different MAC devices without packet loss or with at most one packet lost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional dynamic reassignment methods are used to reconfigure PHY-MAC device interconnections, then system adaptability is improved, but packet loss increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes a preliminary connection between the PHY device and the second MAC device before interrupting the connection with the first MAC device. This preliminary action ensures that the reassignment path is ready and validated before actual traffic is switched, preventing packet loss during the transition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary validation process involving empty-traffic indications and connection validation messages between the PHY device and both MAC devices. This intermediary mechanism acts as a buffer and validator during the reassignment process, ensuring smooth transition without data loss.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional reassignment methods are used during hardware upgrades or energy management, then device flexibility is improved, but system availability deteriorates due to packet loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous useful action by ensuring that traffic flow remains uninterrupted during reassignment. The methodology keeps the connection active and validated throughout the reconfiguration process, allowing hardware upgrades and energy management operations to proceed without compromising system availability or causing packet loss.
Solution Approach 2:
Before performing hardware upgrades or energy management operations, the system preliminarily establishes the new connection path and validates it. This preliminary action ensures that the reassignment can be executed seamlessly, maintaining system availability throughout the maintenance window.
3Speed
If connection reassignment is performed without validation, then reconfiguration speed is improved, but connection reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic validation actions during the reassignment process, including sending empty-traffic indications and validation messages at specific intervals. These periodic checks ensure connection reliability without significantly slowing down the reconfiguration, as the validation steps are efficiently integrated into the reassignment sequence.
4Device complexity
If buffering is not used during reassignment, then system complexity is reduced, but packet loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing buffer capabilities of the MAC devices as intermediaries during the reassignment process. The second MAC device buffers incoming traffic while the connection is being validated and switched, preventing packet loss without requiring additional complex buffering infrastructure. This approach leverages existing system resources efficiently.
Data Source
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AI summary
Devices, systems and methods for run-time reassignment of the interconnection between devices pertaining to a Physical (PHY) layer and devices pertaining to a Media Access Control (MAC) layer. The PHY devices are typically located on I/O blades, while MAC devices are typically located on forwarding and control blades. A reconfigurable crossbar device interconnects I/O blades, forwarding blades and control blades. The network of PHY and MAC devices may use a standardized interfacing protocol configured to decouple physically a PHY and a MAC device. Remapping between a PHY and a MAC device is controlled by system management functions. A 'Remote Fault' or a 'Pause' message is used in combination with empty-traffic indicating 'idle patterns' in a system configured to accommodate the remapping of I/O blades to different Application-Specific Standard Product (ASSP) blades so as to avoid or eliminate, respectively, the loss of packets during hardware or software upgrades. During reassignment, traffic is buffered in the MAC device, to which the PHY device is to be switched.