Methods and apparatus for randomly distributing traffic in a multi-path switch fabric
摘要
說(shuō)明書(shū)
Next, the schedule module of the switch module can be configured to select one status indicator from the set of status indicators, each of which is associated with an egress port that is available for sending the data cell. In some embodiments, a random method can be used to select one status indicator from the set of status indicators that represents the egress ports available for sending the data cell. More specifically, each status indicator from that set of status indicators is associated with a nonzero probability of being selected. Furthermore, in some embodiments, each status indicator from that set of status indicators can be associated with an equal (or substantially equal) probability of being selected. In other words, the schedule module is configured to select any status indicator from that set of status indicators with an equal (or substantially equal) probability. For example, the schedule module can be configured to select a status indicator from a set of five status indicators that represents five egress ports available for sending a data cell, such that any of the five status indicators can be selected with a probability of 0.2. For another example, the schedule module can be configured to select a status indicator from a set of ten status indicators that represents ten egress ports available for sending a data cell, such that any of the ten status indicators can be selected with a probability of 0.1. In some other embodiments, a round robin method can be used to select one status indicator from a set of status indicators that represents the egress ports available for sending a data cell. That is, each status indicator from such a set of status indicators can be selected according to a predetermined order, until every status indicator from the set of status indicators is selected.
