Queue scheduler control via packet data

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a method for a hardware forwarding element that includes multiple queues. The method receives a packet at a multi-stage processing pipeline of the hardware forwarding element. The method determines, at one of the stages of the processing pipeline, to modify a setting of a particular one of the queues. The method stores an identifier for the particular queue and instructions to modify the queue setting with data passed through the processing pipeline for the packet. The stored information is subsequently used by the hardware forwarding element to modify the queue setting.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus comprising:
 a network adapter comprising:   a packet processing pipeline configured to change a configuration associated with a queue based on an instruction associated with a packet.   
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the network adapter comprises an interface for a computing system to a network of one or more computers. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the network adapter comprises one or more of: a forwarding element, router, or switch. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the packet processing pipeline comprises at least one match-action unit (MAU) and the MAU is to cause storage of the instruction. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the configuration is to modify a scheduler setting associated with the queue. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the scheduler setting comprises a rate at which packets are scheduled for dequeuing from the queue. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the configuration comprises a pause or resume of packets for dequeuing from the queue. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the configuration changes a priority level associated with the queue. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the packet processing pipeline comprises a plurality of ingress pipelines and a plurality of egress pipelines, and the network adapter comprises a traffic manager. 
     
     
         45 . A method comprising:
 at a data plane of a network adapter, change a configuration associated with a packet queue based on an instruction associated with a packet.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the network adapter comprises an interface for a computing system to a network of computers. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the network adapter comprises one or more of: a forwarding element, router, or switch. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the data plane comprises a packet processing pipeline that comprises at least one match-action unit (MAU) and the MAU is to cause storage of the instruction. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the configuration is to modify a scheduler setting associated with the packet queue. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the scheduler setting comprises a rate at which packets are scheduled for dequeuing from the packet queue. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the configuration comprises a pause or resume of packets for dequeuing from the packet queue. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the configuration changes a priority level associated with the packet queue. 
     
     
         53 . A computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon, that if executed by one or more processors of a packet processing pipeline, cause the one or more processors to:
 change a configuration associated with a queue based on an instruction associated with a packet.   
     
     
         54 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 53 , wherein the packet processing pipeline is part of one or more of: a network adapter, a forwarding element, router, or switch. 
     
     
         55 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 53 , wherein the packet processing pipeline comprises at least one match-action unit (MAU) and the MAU is to cause storage of the instruction.