Transferring foreign protocols across a system area network
First Claim
1. A method for processing foreign protocol requests across a system area network, the method comprising:
- receiving a request from a device utilizing a protocol which is foreign to a protocol utilized by the system area network;
encapsulating the request in a data packet; and
sending the data packet to a requested node via the system area network fabric.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system, and apparatus for processing foreign protocol requests, such as PCI transactions, across a system area network (SAN) utilizing a data packet protocol is provided while maintaining the other SAN traffic. In one embodiment, a HCA receives a request for a load or store operation from a processor to an I/O adapter using a protocol which is foreign to the system area network, such as a PCI bus protocol. The HCA encapsulates the request into a data packet and places appropriate headers and trailers in the data packet to ensure that the data packet is delivered across the SAN fabric to an appropriate TCA to which the requested I/O adapter is connected. The TCA receives the data packet, determines that it contains a foreign protocol request, and decodes the data packet to obtain the foreign protocol request. The foreign protocol request is then transmitted to the appropriate I/O adapter.
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Citations
69 Claims
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1. A method for processing foreign protocol requests across a system area network, the method comprising:
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receiving a request from a device utilizing a protocol which is foreign to a protocol utilized by the system area network;
encapsulating the request in a data packet; and
sending the data packet to a requested node via the system area network fabric. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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18. A method for processing foreign protocol requests across a system area network, the method comprising:
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receiving a data packet from a system area network fabric;
determining that the data packet contains an encapsulated foreign protocol transmission;
decoding the data packet to obtain the foreign protocol transmission; and
sending the foreign protocol transmission to a requested device.
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24. A computer program product in a computer readable media for use in a networked data processing system for processing foreign protocol requests across a system area network, the computer program product comprising:
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first instructions for receiving a request from a device utilizing a protocol which is foreign to a protocol utilized by the system area network;
second instructions for encapsulating the request in a data packet; and
third instructions for sending the data packet to a requested node via the system area network fabric.
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41. A computer program product in a computer readable media for use in a data processing system for processing foreign protocol requests across a system area network, the computer program product comprising:
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first instructions for receiving a data packet from a system area network fabric;
second instructions for determining that the data packet contains an encapsulated foreign protocol transmission;
third instructions for decoding the data packet to obtain the foreign protocol transmission; and
fourth instructions for sending the foreign protocol transmission to a requested device. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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47. A system for processing foreign protocol requests across a system area network, the system comprising:
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first means for receiving a request from a device utilizing a protocol which is foreign to a protocol utilized by the system area network;
second means for encapsulating the request in a data packet; and
third means for sending the data packet to a requested node via the system area network fabric.
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64. A system for processing foreign protocol requests across a system area network, the system comprising:
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first means for receiving a data packet from a system area network fabric;
second means for determining that the data packet contains an encapsulated foreign protocol transmission;
third means for decoding the data packet to obtain the foreign protocol transmission; and
fourth means for sending the foreign protocol transmission to a requested device. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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Specification