Segmented Lookup Table for High-Bandwidth Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multiplane networks, the number of local identifiers (LIDs) often exceeds the forwarding entries available in the switch pipe, leading to a shared forwarding table that supports more LIDs but reduces lookup speed, particularly for high-bandwidth traffic.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a segmented forwarding table that separates addresses into distinct ranges, allowing high-bandwidth traffic to use a dedicated, faster lookup section while low-bandwidth or management traffic uses a shared, slower lookup section, thereby maintaining efficient routing without sacrificing high-bandwidth performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a shared forwarding table is used to support more LIDs, then the number of supported local identifiers increases, but the lookup speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The forwarding table is divided into multiple segments or planes, each handling a specific range of LIDs. This segmentation allows parallel lookup operations across different segments, maintaining high lookup speed while supporting a large total number of LIDs across all segments combined.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the dimension of multiple planes in the forwarding table structure. Instead of a single large table, multiple smaller tables organized in planes provide lookup capabilities, enabling the system to support more LIDs without sacrificing speed by distributing the lookup load across dimensional planes.
2Quantity of substance
If a large shared forwarding table is implemented, then more LIDs can be accommodated, but the routing lookup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The forwarding table is segmented into multiple smaller tables that can be searched in parallel. This reduces the time required to locate an entry by distributing the search across multiple segments, thereby reducing routing lookup time while maintaining the capacity to support a large number of LIDs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous and efficient lookup operations by organizing the forwarding table into planes that can be accessed simultaneously. This continuous parallel processing capability maintains high lookup speed even as the total capacity for supported LIDs increases.
Data Source
AI summary
A switch, communication system, and method are provided. In one example, a communication system is described that includes a plurality of communication nodes and a switch that interconnects and facilitates a transmission of packets between the plurality of communication nodes. The communication system may be configured such that the packets are transmitted between the plurality of communication nodes using a segmented forwarding table.