Intel NETWORK PROCESSOR IXP2800 - Manual (Page 270)

270 Hardware Reference Manual
Intel
®
IXP2800 Network Processor
Media and Switch Fabric Interface
Note: A Dead Cycle is any cycle after the end of a CFrame, and prior to the start of another CFrame
(i.e., SOF is not asserted). The end of a CFrame is defined as after the Vertical Parity has been
transmitted. This in turn is found by counting the Payload Bytes specified in the Base Header and
rounding up to CWord size.
After an element has been sent on the transmit pins, the valid bit for that element is cleared. The
Tx_Sequence register is incremented when the element has been transmitted; by also maintaining
a sequence number of elements that have been allocated (in software), the microcode can
determine how many elements are in-flight.
8.3.3.3 Transmit Summary
The states that a TBUF element goes through (Free, Allocated, Transmitting, and Valid) are shown
in Figure 95 .
8.3.4 Transmit Flow Control Status
Transmit Flow Control is handled partly by hardware and partly by software. Information from the
Egress IXP2800 Network Processor can be transmitted to the Ingress IXP2800 Network Processor
(as described in Section 8.2.7 on Receive Flow Control); how it is used is described in the
remainder of this section.
Figure 95. TBUF State Diagram
A9344-02
Free. Element is empty
and available to be
allocated to be filled.
Allocate new element
(Next element is kept by
ME software)
Set valid by
msf[write] All data in element
transmitted
Transmitting. Data in
element is being sent
out on Tx pins.
All previous elements
transmitted
Reset
Allocated. Element is
being filled with data
under ME control. There
is no limit to how many
elements may be in this
state.
Valid. Element has been
set valid by ME code
using one of two methods.
In this state, it will wait to
be transmitted (FIFO
order is maintained).