KR100363886B1 - Interface method of network processing module in multilayer packet switch system and multilayer packet switch system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an interface method for improving the processing efficiency of packets related to a routing protocol in a switch system that performs a multilayer function, and a multilayer packet switch system for the same. In the present invention, among the data to be processed in the CPU of the network processing module, system-related data (RMON, system configuration, system control, etc.) of the I / O module and the switch fabric module and routing data (IGMP, ICMP, ARP, etc.) related to the routing protocol Separately, the system-related data uses the CPU bus as in the conventional method, and the routing-related data passes through the switch fabric module like general data packets and then interfaces using the Ethernet protocol. To this end, there is provided a multilayer packet switch system including an Ethernet control module that provides an interface path for routing-related data. In the interface method proposed by the present invention, the CPU of the network processing module can process the routing related data while the network processing module is accessing the system related data through the CPU bus without being in the standby state. Therefore, in the interface method of the conventional network processing module, routing related data is not processed by the forwarding function of the input / output module while the CPU accesses the system related data, thereby eliminating the waiting time, thereby improving the packet processing efficiency of the system. Let's go.

Description

Interface method of network processing module and multilayer packet switch system for multilayer packet switch system

The present invention relates to an interface method of a network processing module capable of increasing the processing efficiency of packets related to a routing protocol in a switch system performing a multilayer function, and a multilayer packet switch system for the same.

In order to deal with the problem of insufficient bandwidth, a layer 2 switch system that performs a conventional bridge function has been developed, and a multilayer packet switch system that performs a layer 3 function is currently being developed.

FIG. 1 shows a structure diagram of a multilayer packet switch system of a spatial division type, which is currently configured the most.

As shown in the figure, the packet switch system includes a plurality of (up to N) input / output modules 10 performing a packet forwarding function, a switch fabric module 20 having N ports for switching packets according to a destination, It consists of a network processing module 30 for processing the control signal and routing protocol of the input / output module 10 and the switch fabric module 20.

In the multilayer packet switch system, each of the N input / output modules 10 performs a connection function between a physical layer and a media access control (MAC) layer, and performs a lookup and buffering function for forwarding packets. In the input / output module 10, the forwarding function unit 11 performs the forwarding functions of the layer 2 and the layer 3 with respect to the data input and located in each input module.

The switch fabric module 20 is a functional block for switching packets according to the result of the forwarding function 11, and performs an arbitration function to determine the switching order when contention of an output port occurs. It controls and manages switch fabric connections.

The network processing module 30 performs data for system configuration and management functions for each port, and performs network related functions such as a spanning tree algorithm and a routing protocol.

As described above, the network processing module 30 processes system control data and network related data in a packet switch system structure that performs multilayer switching functions such as layers 2 and 3. To this end, system-related data and routing-related data that require processing by the network processing module 30 are interfaced through a CPU data bus of the network processing module 30.

In FIG. 1, the signal path 1 is a signal path of data for which the processing of the network processing module 30 is required. Therefore, the signal path 1 includes Internet Group Membership Protocol (IGMP) and Internet Control (ICMP) that are received by the network processing module 30 in connection with system-related data such as RMON (Remote Monitoring Network), system configuration, and system control. Routing protocol data such as Message Protocol (ARP) and Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) are processed together.

Meanwhile, the signal path 2 is a signal path of packet data that requires switching, and is a path of general data that is switched according to the forwarding result.

In this interface method, the input / output module 10 or the switch fabric module 20 may temporarily store data using an input buffer such as DPRAM (Dual Port RAM) or FIFO (First In First OUT). Have

In addition, the network processing module 30 uses input functions such as direct memory access (DMA) to process related data, and input buffers of each interface module (input / output module or switch fabric module) in order (sequential method, interrupt method). Transmit and receive data in (DPRAM or FIFO).

In this case, however, the high-speed CPU of the network processing module 30 is in a standby state while interfacing data using a CPU data bus (depending on memory) having a slow data transfer rate. Therefore, in the case of a switch system requiring packet processing at a high speed, the data processing efficiency is reduced because the CPU cannot process data as much as the maximum capacity that the CPU can handle. In particular, when the routing table for forwarding from the network processing module 30 to the input / output module 10 is updated, the delay of packet processing is further increased.

In addition, even in a switch system that provides a wide area network (WAN) interface in the same structure, since the WAN connection packets must be processed by the CPU of the network processing module 30, a delay occurs in the signal processing during the WAN interface.

The present invention provides a method for interfacing a network processing module to solve a problem of delay in processing routing-related data generated when a conventional network processing module interfaces with an input / output module and a switch fabric module through a CPU data bus in a multilayer packet switch system. The purpose is to provide.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multilayer packet switch system that can implement the interface method of the network processing module described above.

1 is an interface structure diagram of a network processing module of a conventional multilayer packet switch system.

2 is a structural diagram showing an interface method of a network processing module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a structural diagram showing an interface method of a network processing module according to another embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a functional block diagram of components of a multilayer packet switch system of the present invention implementing the interface method of FIG.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

10, 100, 100N: I / O module 101: I / O CPU interface block

102, 402: switch interface block 20, 200: switch fabric module

201: switch CPU interface block 30, 300: network processing module

301: control information bus interface block

302: Central Processing Unit (CPU)

303, 401: Ethernet interface block

400: Ethernet control module 401: Ethernet interface block

The interface method of the network processing module of the present invention for achieving the object as described above is to separate the system path-related data interface path of the network-related data of the network processing module and the interface path of the routing-related data to separate the system control-related data through the CPU data bus. During access, routing-related data is transmitted and received to the network processing module through an Ethernet interface capable of high-speed signal connection.

In addition, the multilayer packet switch system of the present invention to enable the interface of the network processing module, a switch fabric module having a plurality of input and output modules for performing a packet forwarding function, and a plurality of ports for switching packets according to the destination; And a network processing module configured to process control signals and routing protocols of the input / output module and the switch fabric module, wherein the multilayer packet switch system is connected to the switch fabric module (or an input / output module) and the network processing module. And an Ethernet control module that provides an interface for routing related data of the input / output module and the switch fabric module transmitted to the module.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Example 1

2 illustrates an interface method of a network processing module for improving packet processing capability in a multilayer packet switch system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The multilayer packet switch system for implementing the present embodiment is composed of a switch fabric module 200, a network processing module 300, and an Ethernet control module 400 having N-1 input / output modules 100 and N ports. do. The interface functional blocks between the modules are shown in FIG. 4, which will be described later.

The difference between the multilayer packet switch system for implementing the interface method of the network processing module of the present embodiment and the multilayer packet switch system for implementing the interface method of the conventional network processing module shown in FIG. 1 is the switch fabric module 200. In the Nth port of the I / O module that performs the connection between the physical layer and the MAC layer is not connected, the network processing module 300 and the Ethernet control module 400 for the interface is connected.

Here, the Ethernet control module 400 provides a path for interfacing routing related data that requires signal processing of the network processing module 300 through the switch fabric module 200.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the interface method of the network processing module of the present embodiment, system-related data such as system configuration information and packet information for each port, which are required to be processed by the network processing module 300, is the same as the conventional interface method shown in FIG. 1. It is interfaced using the CPU data bus of the network processing module 300. However, the routing related data will use the Ethernet control module 400 connected to the port of the switch fabric module 200. At this time, the routing protocol related data interfaced through the Ethernet control module 400 is interfaced using the Ethernet protocol or the Layer 2 protocol.

In FIG. 2, the signal path 1 is a signal path of system-related data such as RMON, system configuration, system control, etc. of the network processing module 300, and the signal path 3 is a network processing module (i. Signal path of routing related data such as IGMP, ICMP, ARP etc. received from 300).

The signal path 2 is a signal path of packet data requiring switching as in the related art, and is a path of general data switched according to a forwarding result, and is not related to the interface of the network processing module 300.

In the interface method of the present embodiment, since the interface of the system control-related data and the routing-related data to be processed in the network processing module 300 is separated, the CPU data bus and the input / output module 100 and the switch fabric of the network processing module 300 are separated. While obtaining system control information through the memory (DPRAM or FIFO) interface of the module 200, the CPU of the network processing module 300 processes the routing related data received through the Ethernet control module 400.

Therefore, the interface method of the network processing module of the present embodiment has an advantage in that the switch system can reduce the loss of data packets or the switch blocking caused by the processing delay of the routing related data in the input / output module 100. It is also suitable for multilayer switch systems that require high-speed packet processing, such as Gigabit Ethernet switch systems.

However, since the interface method of the present embodiment has a multilayer packet switch system structure in which the Ethernet control module 400 is connected to the N-th port of the switch fabric module 200, the input / output module 100 may be compared with a conventional multilayer packet switch system structure. One less connected. This has the disadvantage that the packet processing capacity of the entire system is reduced.

Example 2

3 is a diagram illustrating an interface method of a network processing module according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and compensates for a disadvantage in that packet processing capacity of a system is reduced in the interface method of a network processing module according to the first embodiment .

The multilayer packet switch system for implementing the present embodiment is composed of up to N input / output modules 100, a switch fabric module 200 having N ports, a network processing module 300, and an Ethernet control module 400. do.

In addition, unlike the system structure of FIG. 2 of Embodiment 1, the input / output module 100 is connected to all the ports (N) of the switch fabric module 200, and rings to one of the input / output modules 100N again. ) Is connected to the Ethernet control module 400.

As described above, in the system structure of the present embodiment in which the Ethernet control module 400 is connected in a ring with the input / output module 100N connected to the Nth port of the switch fabric module 200, the signal path 1 is the same network processing as the first embodiment. Signal path of system related data such as RMON, system configuration, system control, etc. of the module 300.

However, in the signal path 3, unlike the first embodiment , a signal of routing related data such as IGMP, ICMP, and ARP and a general data packet switched to the Nth input / output module 100N are processed together.

However, since the I / O module 100N and the Ethernet control module 400 are connected in a ring and use a ring protocol, since the routing related data such as IGMP, ICMP, and ARP are transmitted to the I / O module 100 of the Nth port, Separated from and transmitted to the Ethernet control module 400. Here, the routing protocol related data interfaced through the Ethernet control module 400 is interfaced using the Ethernet protocol or the Layer 2 protocol.

In the interface method of the present embodiment as described above, the Ethernet control module 400 is connected to the input / output module 100 connected to the Nth port of the switch fabric module 200 in a ring shape, and thus, the entire system generated in Embodiment 1 The problem of reducing the packet processing capacity does not occur.

Figure 4 shows the interface functional blocks required between each module in the interface method of the network processing module of the first embodiment .

In the multilayer packet switch system having the structure of FIG. 4, the input / output module 100 includes an input / output CPU interface block 101 that performs a signal transmission function of system-related data for port-specific control management with the network processing module 300. And a switch interface block 102 for the switch interface of the packet data for which switching is required.

In addition, the switch fabric module 200 includes a switch CPU interface block 201 for transmitting and receiving a signal for determining the configuration of the switch fabric and the operation state of the switch to the network processing module 300.

Here, the input / output CPU interface block 101 and the switch CPU interface block 201 are functional blocks for processing RMON, system configuration, and system control data through the signal path 1, and dual port SRAM for data transmission. Or a memory element such as a FIFO.

In addition, the Ethernet control module 400 has a switch interface block 402 having the same function as the switch interface block 102 of the input / output module 100 and a switch fabric module 200 for signal connection with the switch fabric module 200. There is an Ethernet interface block 401 for transmitting to the network processing module 300 the routing related data transmitted and received via the ().

The switch interface block 402 of the Ethernet control module 400 is a functional block for transmitting and receiving IGMP, ICMP, ARP, and the like, routing protocol data required for processing by the network processing module 300 CPU, from the switch fabric module 42. .

The Ethernet interface block 401 is an interface block for transmitting and receiving routing data such as IGMP, ICMP, and ARP at high speed using the network processing module 200 and the Ethernet frame. Accordingly, the network processing module 200 uses a control information interface block 301 for transmitting and receiving control and management information of the input / output module 100 and the switch fabric module 200, the Ethernet control module 401, and the Ethernet protocol. The Ethernet interface block 443 which sends and receives routing related data is composed of CPU 402 functional blocks.

Although not shown, the interface functional blocks required between the modules in the interface method of the network processing module of the second embodiment are the same as the interface functional blocks in FIG. 4. However, since the Ethernet control module 400 of FIG. 2 is connected to the input / output module 100N by a ring, a ring protocol is used between them, and the Ethernet control module 400 receives routing related data through the input / output module 100N. Is different.

As described above, in the multilayer packet switch system of the present invention, the network processing module interface method separates an interface path between system-related data and routing protocol-related data so that the network processing module provides system-related data (system configuration information, port). Each packet information, etc.) is interfaced through the CPU bus, and routing protocol related data (ICMP, IGMP, ARP, etc.) are interfaced using the Ethernet protocol through the Ethernet control module, thereby improving the CPU processing efficiency of the network processing module. .

In addition, unlike the conventional network processing interface method, the CPU of the network processing module can process routing-related data without waiting for the CPU of the network processing module to access the system-related data through the CPU bus, thereby improving the packet processing capability of the switch system. In addition, the switch blocking probability can be reduced.

The technical spirit of the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but this is by way of illustration of a preferred embodiment of the present invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. In addition, it is obvious that any person skilled in the art can make various modifications and imitations without departing from the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

Claims (12)

In a multilayer packet switch system, A plurality of input / output modules for performing a packet forwarding function; A switch fabric module having a plurality of ports for switching packets according to a destination between the input / output modules; A network processing module processing routing data related to control signals and routing protocols of the input / output module and the switch fabric module; And An Ethernet control module connected to a port of the switch fabric module to interface data related to routing protocols of the input / output module and the switch fabric module to the network processing module, The Ethernet control module, A switch interface block for signal connection with the switch fabric module; And And an Ethernet interface block for transmitting routing related data transmitted and received through the switch fabric module to the network processing module. In a multilayer packet switch system, A plurality of input / output modules for performing a packet forwarding function; A switch fabric module having a plurality of ports for switching packets according to a destination between the input / output modules; A network processing module processing routing data related to control signals and routing protocols of the input / output module and the switch fabric module; And And an Ethernet control module connected to one of the plurality of input / output modules in a ring to interface routing protocol related data of the input / output module and the switch fabric module to the network processing module. The Ethernet control module, A switch interface block for signal connection with a connected input / output module; And And an Ethernet interface block for transmitting routing related data transmitted and received through the input / output module to a network processing module. Multi-layer packet switch system for transmitting and receiving data between the input and output module and the Ethernet control module using a ring protocol. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The input / output module 100 includes: an input / output CPU interface block 101 for performing a signal transmission function of system-related data for port-specific control management with the network processing module 300; And a switch interface block (102) for a switch interface of packet data for which switching is required. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The switch fabric module 200 is characterized in that it comprises a switch CPU interface block 201 for transmitting and receiving a signal for determining the configuration of the switch fabric and the operation state of the switch to the network processing module 300 Multilayer packet switch system. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The network processing module 300, A control information interface block (301) for transmitting and receiving control and management information of the input / output module (100, 100N) and the switch fabric module (200); Including the Ethernet interface block 303 for the transmission and reception of routing-related data with the Ethernet control module 401, the system-related data and routing-related data to and from the CPU 302 via these functional blocks Layer Packet Switch System. delete The method of claim 2, The input / output module 100N to which the Ethernet control module 400 is connected is An input / output CPU interface block 101 for performing a signal transmission function of system-related data for port-specific control management with the network processing module 300; A switch interface block 102 for a switch interface of packet data for which switching is required; Multi-layer packet switch system, characterized in that for transmitting the signal of the routing protocol-related data transmitted through the switching fabric module (33) using the ring protocol to the Ethernet control module (400) separated from the normal data. delete delete A switch fabric module having a plurality of input / output modules performing a packet forwarding function, a plurality of ports for switching packets according to a destination between the input / output modules, routing data related to control signals and routing protocols of the input / output module and the switch fabric module. In the network processing module for processing, and Ethernet control module, Interface method of data processing in the network processing module of a multilayer packet switch system comprising: The system related data of the input / output module and the switch fabric module are interfaced through the CPU data bus of the network processing module, Routing related protocol-related data is switched to the Ethernet control module capable of a high-speed signal connection through the switch fabric module, and then interfaced through the Ethernet control module network processing module included in a multilayer packet switch system Interface method. A switch fabric module having a plurality of input / output modules performing a packet forwarding function, a plurality of ports for switching packets according to a destination between the input / output modules, routing data related to control signals and routing protocols of the input / output module and the switch fabric module. In the network processing module for processing, and Ethernet control module, Interface method of data processing in the network processing module of a multilayer packet switch system comprising: The system related data of the input / output module and the switch fabric module are interfaced through the CPU data bus of the network processing module, The routing protocol related data is switched to the I / O module connected to the Ethernet control module in a ring together with other data through the switch fabric module, and then separated from the I / O module and switched to the Ethernet control module. The interface method of the network processing module included in the multilayer packet switch system, characterized in that separated from the interface via the Ethernet control module. The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein The routing protocol related data interfaced through the Ethernet control module (400) is an interface method of a network processing module in a multilayer packet switch system, characterized in that the interface using the Ethernet protocol or Layer 2 protocol.