Processing Data in a Distributed Routing System

Abstract

A distributed routing system is provided for use in a communication network. The distributed routing system comprises a plurality of forwarding modules and a plurality of fabric modules. At least one counter located at at least one respective fabric module is configured to receive data relating to the number of packets being forwarded via physical and/or logical interfaces associated with at least two of the plurality of forwarding modules.

Description

Claims

1. A distributed routing system for use in a communication network comprising a plurality of forwarding modules and a plurality of fabric modules, and wherein at least one counter located at at least one respective fabric module is configured to receive data relating to number of packets being forwarded via physical and/or logical interfaces associated with at least two of the plurality of forwarding modules.

2. The distributed routing system of claim 1, wherein the at least one counter located at at least one respective fabric module is configured to receive data relating to the number of packets being forwarded via all physical and/or logical interfaces associated with said at least two of the plurality of forwarding modules.

3. The distributed routing system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of forwarding modules and the plurality of fabric modules is a separate physical device.

4. The distributed routing system of claim 1, wherein a CPU associated with at least one counter located at a respective fabric module is configured to remotely retrieve the data relating to number of packets being forwarded via physical and/or logical interfaces associated with said at least two forwarding modules.

5. The distributed routing system of claim 1, wherein the data relating to number of packets being forwarded via physical and/or logical interfaces associated with said at least two forwarding modules, is exported to a counter engine of a fabric switches associated with a respective fabric module, as a data plane packet.

6. The distributed routing system of claim 1, wherein said at least one fabric module is further configured to execute a counter collection application for retrieving counter values from a counter engine located at said at least one fabric module.

7. The distributed routing system of claim 6, wherein said data relating to the number of packets being forwarded via physical and/or logical interfaces associated with said at least two forwarding modules is processed at said at least one fabric module separately from processing the counter values retrieved from the counter engine located at said at least one fabric module.