Arista Networks, Inc.
System and method of coalescing writes to a hardware table in a non-disruptive fashion

Abstract:

A method and apparatus of a network element that stores a lookup entry in a hardware table of a network element is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the network element receives a notification of a dirty lookup entry to be processed for a hardware table of a network element, where the hardware table includes a plurality of lookup entries. In addition, the network element determines a location for a table modification associated with the dirty lookup entry in the hardware table. Furthermore, the network element performs, with a hardware writer of the network element, the table modification associated with the lookup entry in a non-disruptive manner, where the hardware writer performs the table modification associated with the lookup entry in response to determining that the table modification associated with the lookup entry does not leave one of the plurality of lookup entries inconsistent after the table modification is performed.