An adaptive hash-based multilayer scheduler for L7-filter on a highly threaded hierarchical multi-core server

Abstract

Ubiquitous multi-core-based web servers and edge routers are increasingly popular in deploying computationally intensive Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) programs. Previous work has shown the benefits of connection locality-based scheduling on multi-core servers to improve L7-filter performance. However, we show that highly threaded hierarchical multi-core processors, such as the Sun Niagara 2 processor, accumulate imbalanced workload at each resource layer. This workload imbalance potentially offsets the benefits from connection locality. In addition, connection-locality-based load balance fails to work when network traffic is unevenly distributed.