Patent ID: 7502374
Filing Date: 2009-03-10
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A system for deriving hash values for packets in a packet processing system comprising: key derivation logic, coupled to receive a sequence of commands related to content addressable memory selection from a sequence control table and coupled to receive packet processing data, comprising either or both a packet undergoing processing by packet processing logic or state data generated by the packet processing logic during processing of the packet, the key derivation logic generating a key, from a portion of the packet processing data as selected by a command from the sequence control table, for driving each of a plurality of processing cycles by the packet processing logic in processing the packet; hash derivation logic, coupled to receive the keys from the key derivation logic and coupled to receive mask data from the sequence control table, the hash derivation logic providing hash information for each of the plurality of processing cycles that is useful for supporting a link aggregation function for the packet, the hash information for a processing cycle derived by masking the key for that processing cycle using mask data from the sequence control table; resolution logic, coupled to receive the hash information from the hash derivation logic for each of the plurality of processing cycles and coupled to receive one or more commands related to the link aggregation function from the sequence control table, the resolution logic resolving the hash information received from the hash derivation logic over the plurality of processing cycles using the one or more commands from the sequence control table to derive a hash value for the packet; and link aggregation logic coupled to the resolution logic for receiving the hash value and supporting the link aggregation function for the packet by allocating to the packet a physical link from a plurality of physical links, comprising a logical link, based on the hash value of the packet.