Orchestrating configuration of a programmable accelerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12063148-B2
Application number	US-202016904934-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 18, 2020
Priority date	Jun 18, 2020
Publication date	Aug 13, 2024
Grant date	Aug 13, 2024

Abstract

Technology related to orchestrating a configuration of a programmable accelerator is disclosed. In one example, a method includes executing a service within a container runtime. The service can include a software application and an orchestrator application, where the orchestrator application is adapted to configure a programmable hardware accelerator and the software application adapted to interoperate with the programmable hardware accelerator. The orchestrator application, executing within the container runtime, can be used to retrieve a system image from a file repository. The system image can include configuration data for the programmable hardware accelerator. The orchestrator application, executing within the container runtime, can be used to configure the programmable hardware accelerator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method implemented by a network traffic management system comprising one or more network traffic management apparatuses, server devices, or client devices, the method comprising:
executing a first instance of a service within a container runtime, the service comprising a software application and an orchestrator application, the orchestrator application adapted to configure a programmable hardware accelerator, the software application adapted to interoperate with the programmable hardware accelerator that is configured by the orchestrator application;
using the orchestrator application, executing within the container runtime, to retrieve a system image from a file repository, the system image comprising configuration data for the programmable hardware accelerator, the configuration data comprising basic functionality that comprises logic for implementing input and output functions of the programmable hardware accelerator;
using the orchestrator application, executing within the container runtime, to configure the programmable hardware accelerator to operate according to the configuration data of the retrieved system image; and
using the software application, executing within the container runtime, to program control registers of the programmable hardware accelerator after the programmable hardware accelerator has been configured by the orchestrator application, the control registers comprising of changing a functionality of the programmable hardware accelerator without changing hardware configurations.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
using the orchestrator application, executing within the container runtime, to enable an operating system module to interoperate with the programmable hardware accelerator.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
enabling the programmable hardware accelerator to process network traffic after the programmable hardware accelerator has been configured by the orchestrator application.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
executing a second instance of the service within the container runtime;
using the orchestrator application of the second instance, executing within the container runtime, to determine the programmable hardware accelerator is already configured to operate according to the configuration data of the retrieved system image; and
in response to determining the programmable hardware accelerator is already configured, enabling the second instance of the service to use the programmable hardware accelerator without reconfiguring the programmable hardware accelerator.

5. A system comprising one or more network traffic management modules, networking modules, or server modules, memory comprising programmed instructions stored thereon, and one or more processors configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
execute a first instance of a service within a container runtime, the service comprising a software application and an orchestrator application, the orchestrator application adapted to configure a programmable hardware accelerator, the software application adapted to interoperate with the programmable hardware accelerator that is configured by the orchestrator application;
use the orchestrator application, executing within the container runtime, to retrieve a system image from a file repository, the system image comprising configuration data for the programmable hardware accelerator, the configuration data comprising a basic functionality that comprises logic for implementing input and output functions of the programmable hardware accelerator;
use the orchestrator application, executing within the container runtime, to configure the programmable hardware accelerator to operate according to the configuration data of the retrieved system image; and
use the software application, executing within the container runtime, to program control registers of the programmable hardware accelerator after the programmable hardware accelerator has been configured by the orchestrator application, the control registers comprising of changing a functionality of the programmable hardware accelerator without changing hardware configurations.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
use the orchestrator application, executing within the container runtime, to enable an operating system module to interoperate with the programmable hardware accelerator.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
enable the programmable hardware accelerator to process network traffic after the programmable hardware accelerator has been configured by the orchestrator application.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
execute a second instance of the service within the container runtime;
use the orchestrator application of the second instance, executing within the container runtime, to determine the programmable hardware accelerator is already configured to operate according to the configuration data of the retrieved system image; and
in response to determining the programmable hardware accelerator is already configured, enable the second instance of the service to use the programmable hardware accelerator without reconfiguring the programmable hardware accelerator.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions comprising executable code that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the processors to:
execute a first instance of a service within a container runtime, the service comprising a software application and an orchestrator application, the orchestrator application adapted to configure a programmable hardware accelerator, the software application adapted to interoperate with the programmable hardware accelerator that is configured by the orchestrator application;
use the orchestrator application, executing within the container runtime, to retrieve a system image from a file repository, the system image comprising configuration data for the programmable hardware accelerator, the configuration data comprising a basic functionality that comprises logic for implementing input and output functions of the programmable hardware accelerator;
use the orchestrator application, executing within the container runtime, to configure the programmable hardware accelerator to operate according to the configuration data of the retrieved system image; and
use the software application, executing within the container runtime, to program control registers of the programmable hardware accelerator after the programmable hardware accelerator has been configured by the orchestrator application, the control registers comprising of changing a functionality of the programmable hardware accelerator without changing hardware configurations.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further comprise executable code that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the processors to:
use the orchestrator application, executing within the container runtime, to enable an operating system module to interoperate with the programmable hardware accelerator.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further comprise executable code that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the processors to:
enable the programmable hardware accelerator to process network traffic afte

Assignees

• F5 Networks Inc
• F5 Inc

Inventors

• Dabell Steven
• Michels Timothy S
• Rai Jagir Maya

Classifications

• G06F2009/45595

  Network integration; Enabling network access in virtual machine instances · CPC title

• G06F9/45558

  Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects · CPC title

• G06F9/44505

  Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files · CPC title

• G06F8/63

  Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order · CPC title

• H04L41/24 Primary

  using dedicated network management hardware · CPC title