There are a number of specific terms to understand when using the Napatech Link-Inline™ Software.
Terminology
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Cache hit | Recently used flows and policies are cached in the SmartNIC. A cache hit occurs when the flow of a frame is found in the cache. |
| Cache miss | Recently used flows and policies are cached in the SmartNIC. A cache miss is when the flow of a frame is not found in the cache. |
| Fast path | The fast path is where all identified flows are handled. |
| Flow info record | A record that contains usage counter statistics. A flow info record is generated periodically, when requested by the application, or at flow unlearning. |
| Flow learning | Adding a flow and policies to the flow table. When unknown flows are received, the application programs the flows to the flow table in the SmartNIC. |
| Flow manager | The flow manager in the SmartNIC looks up a flow or policies of a frame. |
| Flow relearning | A flow relearning refers to the process of updating properties of an existing flow, which may involve adjusting the fill level of the leaky bucket. See Adjusting the fill level of the leaky bucket |
| Flow status record | A record that contains information about the flow-learning result, for example, whether learning of a flow is successful. |
| Flow table | The flow table contains flow information and policy information. |
| Flow unlearning | Deleting a flow and policies of a frame from the flow table. |
| Flow hit | The flow of a frame is found in the flow table. |
| Flow miss | The flow of a frame is not found in the flow table. |
| Slow path | The slow path is where all unknown flows are handled. |
| Unhandled | The SmartNIC may not be able to look up the flow of received frames, for example, in rare situations under high traffic load. These unhandled frames can be delivered to the application for further processing. |