Network switching with co-resident data-plane and network interface controllers

Abstract

A system with co-resident data-plane and network interface controllers embodying a method for network switching of a data packet outgoing from an internal facing interface of a network interface controller portion of the network interface resource to a network is disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for network switching with co-resident data-plane processors and network interface controller, comprising:
 receiving an outgoing packet at an internal facing interface of a network interface controller portion of a network interface resource comprising: a data-plane packet input processor, a data-plane packet output processor, and the network interface controller, implemented on a chip;   providing the outgoing packet processed by the network interface controller to the data-plane packet input processor;   determining by the data-plane packet input processor a target entity; and   providing the packet to the target entity according to the determination.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein providing the packet processed by the network interface controller to the data-plane packet input processor comprises:
 providing the packet processed by the network interface controller to the data-plane packet input processor via a loopback entity.   
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein providing the packet to the target entity according to the determination comprises:
 providing the packet to a packet handling entity; and   processing the packet in accordance with a packet management policy at the packet handling entity.   
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the processing the packet by a packet handling entity in accordance with a packet management policy comprises:
 discarding the packet.   
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the processing the packet by a packet handling entity in accordance with a packet management policy comprises:
 providing the packet to a different destination than the target entity.   
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the processing the packet in accordance with a packet management policy at the packet handling entity comprises:
 providing the processed packet to a network via the data-plane packet output processor.   
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein providing the packet to the target entity according to the determination comprises:
 providing the packet processed by the data-plane packet input processor to a storage;   requesting the packet by the target entity; and   processing the packet by a packet handling entity in accordance with a packet management policy.   
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the processing the packet in accordance with a packet management policy at the packet handling entity comprises:
 providing the processed packet to the target entity.   
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the processing the packet by a packet handling entity in accordance with a packet management policy comprises:
 providing the packet to a different destination than the target entity.   
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the processing the packet by a packet handling entity in accordance with a packet management policy comprises:
 discarding the packet.