A Flexible Microprogrammed Packet Classifier for Edge Nodes of Transport Networks

Packet classification is one of the major tasks of packet processing systems at the edge of high-speed transport networks. As existing protocols are evolving and new protocols are constantly being developed, today's network systems have to be highly flexible and adaptable to changing requirements. In this paper we present a scalable architecture for a packet classification system for high speed transport network interfaces. This architecture allows the introduction of new protocols and the update of classification rules during operation by using the concept of microprogramming. In the paper we will give a detailed description of the classifiers microprogrammed architecture. Further, the topics performance data concerning the throughput of the classification unit, realization complexity and resource requirements on the chip are also addressed.