Dynamic blocking in a shared host-network interface

• US 20040228280A1
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ratcliff, Bruce H., Valley, Stephen R., Stevens, Jerry W., Moore, Thomas D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,646,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/32 by discarding or delaying data units, e.g. packets or frames

Abstract

A method, system, and program product for a data processing system having multiple hosts which dynamically determines blocking of packets in the data processing system. A connection is established between a host and an adapter for communication with a Local Area Network. A set of parameters is established for blocking packets transmitted from the adapter to the host. The set of parameters is stored in the adapter to be used by that connection. The packets transmitted from the adapter to the host are grouped or blocked in accordance with the set of parameters for that connection. Periodically, the packets being transmitted from the adapter to the host are evaluated for determining changes in the parameters. Changes to the set of parameters are recorded in the adapter for that connection to the host. Where there are multiple connections established between the adapter and multiple hosts, a set of parameters to be used for each connection is established such that packets are blocked in accordance with a respective set of parameters for a respective one of the hosts.

Claims

1. In a data processing system having multiple hosts, a method for dynamically determining blocking of packets in the data processing system, the method comprising:

establishing a connection between a host and an adapter for communication with a Local Area Network;

establishing a set of parameters for blocking packets transmitted from the adapter to the host;

storing the set of parameters in the adapter to be used by that connection;

blocking the packets transmitted from the adapter to the host in accordance with the set of parameters for that connection;

periodically evaluating the packets transmitted from the adapter to the host for determining changes in the parameters; and

changing the set of parameters recorded in the adapter for that connection to the host.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising establishing multiple connections are established between the adapter and multiple hosts, and establishing a set of parameters to be used for each connection established such that packets are blocked in accordance with a respective set of parameters for a respective one of the hosts.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of parameters includes:

a maximum packet size;

a minimum packet size; and

a maximum blocking time.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the set of parameters further comprises:

an interpacket gap;

TCP header flags including an ACK and a SYN;

a packet sequence number; and

a no blocking flag for indicating if blocking is or is not being used.

5. A data processing system having multiple hosts and dynamically determining blocking of packets in the data processing system, the data processing system comprising:

an adapter for communication with a Local Area Network;

a connection between the adapter and the host;

a set of parameters stored in the adapter for blocking packets transmitted from the adapter to the host;

a transmitter in the adapter blocking the packets transmitted from the adapter to the host in accordance with the set of parameters for that connection; and

an evaluator periodically evaluating the packets transmitted from the adapter to the host for determining changes in the parameters, said evaluator transmitting changes to the adapter for changing the set of parameters recorded in the adapter for that connection to the host.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising multiple connections between the adapter and multiple hosts, and a set of parameters for each connection established such that packets are blocked in accordance with a respective set of parameters for a respective one of the hosts.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the set of parameters comprises:

a maximum packet size;

a minimum packet size; and

a maximum blocking time.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the set of parameters further comprises:

an interpacket gap;

TCP header flags including an ACK and a SYN;

a packet sequence number; and

a no blocking flag for indicating if blocking is or is not being used.

9. A program product usable with a data processing system having multiple hosts, the program product comprising

A computer readable medium having recorded thereon computer readable program code performing the method for dynamically determining blocking of packets in the data processing system, the method comprising:

establishing a connection between a host and an adapter for communication with a Local Area Network;

establishing a set of parameters for blocking packets transmitted from the adapter to the host;

storing the set of parameters in the adapter to be used by that connection;

blocking the packets transmitted from the adapter to the host in accordance with the set of parameters for that connection;

periodically evaluating the packets transmitted from the adapter to the host for determining changes in the parameters; and

changing the set of parameters recorded in the adapter for that connection to the host.

10. The program product of claim 9 wherein the method further comprises establishing multiple connections between the adapter and multiple hosts, and establishing a set of parameters to be used for each connection established such that packets are blocked in accordance with a respective set of parameters for a respective one of the hosts.

11. The program product of claim 9 wherein the set of parameters includes:

a maximum packet size;

a minimum packet size; and

a maximum blocking time.

12. The program product of claim 11 wherein the set of parameters further comprises:

an interpacket gap;

TCP header flags including an ACK and a SYN;

a packet sequence number; and

a no blocking flag for indicating if blocking is or is not being used.