Patent ID: 9077636
Filing Date: 2015-07-07
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for pausing network traffic, comprising: dividing a buffer into a plurality of logical memory portions, wherein each of the plurality of logical memory portions corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of Priority Flow Control (PFC) classes each defining a respective class of network traffic; subdividing at least one of the plurality of logical memory portions into a plurality of sub-portions, wherein each of the sub-portions corresponds to a different one of a plurality of virtual local area networks (VLANs); upon receiving a data packet specifying one of the PFC classes, store the data packet in a corresponding one of the plurality of logical memory portions of the buffer based on the specified PFC class; upon determining, based on a predefined congestion condition occurring for a first one of the plurality of logical memory portions of the buffer, to suspend network traffic belonging to a first PFC traffic class corresponding to the first logical memory portion and flowing through a virtual local area network (VLAN) of a plurality of VLANs, generating, by operation of one or more computer processors, a data frame comprising a specific VLAN ID that specifies the VLAN and a desired pause length, the data frame configured to instruct a computing device to at least temporarily stop transmitting data packets assigned to the VLAN and belonging to the first PFC traffic class for the desired pause length; and transmitting the data frame to the computing device in order to effect suspension of network traffic specific to the VLAN, while permitting network traffic belonging to the first PFC traffic class and specifying at least one other of the plurality of VLANs to continue to flow.