Methods and apparatus for randomly distributing traffic in a multi-path switch fabric
摘要
說明書
Similar to the operation of selecting a status indicator, after receiving a data cell, the schedule module can be configured to randomly select an egress port associated with a credit value from a credit value list. Similar to a status indicator list, the credit value list can be determined as being associated with the data cell, for example, according to a destination identifier included in the data cell. As described above, an egress port can be selected from all the available egress ports (i.e., the egress ports whose credit value from the credit value list is equal to or above a predetermine credit threshold). In some embodiments, an egress port can be randomly selected from the available egress ports independent of the credit values associated with those available egress ports. For example, each available egress port can be selected with an equal (or substantially equal) probability. Alternatively, an egress port can be selected from the available egress ports in a round robin fashion. In some other embodiments, an egress port can be randomly selected from the available egress ports based on the credit value for each available egress port from the credit value list. For example, as described above, the selection can be done in a way such that an available egress port associated with a higher credit value can be selected with a probability higher than the probability of an available egress port associated with a lower credit value being selected. Finally, the egress port indicator of the selected egress port can be sent by the schedule module to a processor or another portion of the switch module, such that the data cell can be sent from the selected egress port.
