Flexible and scalable data link layer flow control for network fabrics
US9077636B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 4, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jul 7, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 20, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L47/266
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A network fabric may divide a physical connection into a plurality of VLANs as defined by IEEE 802.1Q. Moreover, many network fabrics use Priority Flow Control to identify and segregate network traffic based on different traffic classes or priorities. Current routing protocols define only eight traffic classes. In contrast, a network fabric may contain thousands of unique VLANs. When network congestion occurs, network devices (e.g., switches, bridges, routers, servers, etc.) can negotiate to pause the network traffic associated with one of the different traffic classes. Pausing the data packets associated with a single traffic class may also stop the data packets associated with thousands of VLANs. The embodiments disclosed herein permit a network fabric to individually pause VLANs rather than entire traffic classes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.