VMware, Inc.
UPDATING FLOW CACHE INFORMATION FOR PACKET PROCESSING

Abstract:

Example methods and systems to perform flow cache information update(s) for packet processing are described. In one example, a network element may configure flow cache information specifying a set of actions based on a sequence of stages that is executable during slow-path packet processing. The network element may configure dependency information specifying execution dependence or independence among the set of actions during fast-path packet processing. In response to detecting a configuration change associated with stage(s) from the sequence of stages, the network element may identify first action(s) affected by the configuration change and second action(s) not affected by the configuration change. This way, a granular update may be performed to the flow cache information by updating the at least one first action, but not the at least one second action.