Patent ID: 6563790
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A network switch connected in a computer network comprising:a plurality of ports configured for transferring data packets over the computer network; and at least some of the plurality of ports including: a retry counter incrementing a count of a number of occurrences that a respective port attempts and fails to transfer a data packet from the respective port over the computer network, the count having a maximum retry limit value corresponding to a maximum number of times a respective port is currently allowed to attempt transfer of an individual data packet, control logic for discarding an individual data packet in response to the count in the reset counter reaching the maximum retry limit value, a retry counter reset for resetting the count of the retry counter to a start value in response to assertion of backpressure by the respective port onto the computer network, and retry limit modification logic for modifying the maximum retry limit value after each assertion of backpressure by the respective port such that a total number of transfer attempts for each individual data packet does not exceed a predetermined maximum total number of transfer attempts for each individual data packet irrespective of any resetting of the count of the retry counter.