Abstract: Aiming at what the benchmark tools can offer in network processor application design and their limitations, the paper brings in four disciplines, which are beneficial for NP-based application design, and which ought to be obeyed on the four levels of system, function, task and hardware. Then five formulas are given specifically for Intel NP-based application design. In the third, an application design case and its testing result are given with these disciplines and formulas applied. Finally the paper points out under which circumstances these formulas can be applied.

Key words: NPU, Application design, Workbench, IXP

摘要： 针对benchmark工具在网络处理器应用设计中应用的局限性，该文提出了网络处理器应用设计需要遵循的系统、功能、任务和硬件等层面的4条准则，介绍了适用于Intel IXP系列处理器应用设计的5个公式。给出了应用这4条准则和这些公式进行网络处理器应用方案设计的一个实例和测试结论。论述了所给准则和公式的适用范围。

关键词: 网络处理器, 应用设计, Workbench, IXP