Run-Time Adaptive Processor Allocation of Self-Configurable Intel IXP2400 Network Processor

An ideal Network Processor, that is, a programmable multi-processor device must be capable of offering both the flexibility and speed required for packet processing. But current Network Processor systems generally fall short of the above benchmarks due to traffic fluctuations inherent in packet networks, and the resulting workload variation on individual pipeline stage over a period of time ultimately affects the overall performance of even an otherwise sound system. One potential solution would be to change the code running at these stages so as to adapt to the fluctuations; a near robust system with standing traffic fluctuations is the dynamic adaptive processor, reconfiguring the entire system, which we introduce and study to some extent in this paper. We achieve this by using a crucial decision making model, transferring the binary code to the processor through the SOAP protocol.