Patent ID: 8806058
Filing Date: 2014-08-12
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: sending program text for a program that conforms to a syntax for a general-purpose high-level forwarding path description language (FPDL) from a control unit of a network device to a forwarding component of the network device, wherein the program text includes an argument variable that at least partially defines an external interface to the program; compiling the program text with the forwarding component to a platform-independent intermediate representation; sending a program argument for the argument variable from the control unit to the forwarding component; compiling, in response to a request by the control unit, the intermediate representation with the forwarding component using the program argument to generate a forwarding path block having one or more forwarding structures for execution by the forwarding component to process packets; installing the forwarding path block to an internal packet forwarding path of the forwarding component; receiving a packet with the forwarding component; and processing the received packet by executing the forwarding path block with the forwarding component.