Method of using address resolution protocol for constructing data frame formats for multiple partitions host network interface communications
First Claim
1. A method of network communications implemented within a host-network interface for use in a mainframe class data processing system having multiple partitions and a port to a network, said method comprising:
- receiving an internet protocol (IP) datagram from one partition of said multiple partitions, said IP datagram to be routed to a client coupled to said network;
constructing a first address resolution protocol (ARP) request in a first frame format from said IP datagram and a second ARP request in a second frame format from said IP datagram;
sending both said first ARP request and said second ARP request across said network to said client;
receiving a response from said client in reply to one of said first ARP request and said second ARP request, said response indicating that said client communicates in either said first frame format or said second frame format;
storing at the host-network interface an indication that said client communicates in said first frame format or said second frame format; and
subsequently using the indication stored at the host-network interface that the client communicates in said first frame format or said second frame format to format and send future IP datagrams from the at least one partition to that client.
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Abstract
In a mainframe class data processing system having multiple logical partitions and a port to a network, a host-network interface is established for reducing network overhead at the multiple partitions. The host-network interface includes, for example, a host channel connection coupling the multiple partitions of the host system to a communications adapter having a network device driver for each network coupled to the adapter. The adapter also includes an address resolution protocol (ARP) cache designed to hold predetermined media headers for the clients coupled to the network(s) for use in forwarding an internet protocol (IP) datagram across the network to one of the clients from a partition of the host system. If not predetermined, the adapter is provided with a capability to dynamically determine the needed media header for transmission of the IP datagram across the network to the client. In Ethernet format, this dynamically determining includes forwarding an Ethernet 802.3 ARP request and an Ethernet DIX ARP request from the IP datagram. Provision is also made for partition-to-partition communication of IP datagrams by storing IP addresses of the logical partitions as HOME addresses in the ARP cache of the adapter.
78 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of network communications implemented within a host-network interface for use in a mainframe class data processing system having multiple partitions and a port to a network, said method comprising:
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receiving an internet protocol (IP) datagram from one partition of said multiple partitions, said IP datagram to be routed to a client coupled to said network;
constructing a first address resolution protocol (ARP) request in a first frame format from said IP datagram and a second ARP request in a second frame format from said IP datagram;
sending both said first ARP request and said second ARP request across said network to said client;
receiving a response from said client in reply to one of said first ARP request and said second ARP request, said response indicating that said client communicates in either said first frame format or said second frame format;
storing at the host-network interface an indication that said client communicates in said first frame format or said second frame format; and
subsequently using the indication stored at the host-network interface that the client communicates in said first frame format or said second frame format to format and send future IP datagrams from the at least one partition to that client. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of network communications implemented within a host-network interface for use in a mainframe class data processing system having multiple partitions and a port to a network, said method comprising:
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receiving an internet protocol (IP) datagram from one partition of said multiple partitions, said IP datagram to be routed to a client coupled to said network and having no media header specified;
dynamically determining at the host-network interface a media header for use in communicating said IP datagram to said client coupled to said network; and
wherein said dynamically determining comprises determining whether the media header for the client is already known at the host-network interface and if not, broadcasting a request to said client and identifying said media header from a response by the client to said request. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method of network communications implemented within a host-network interface for use in a mainframe class data processing system having multiple partitions and a port to a network, said method comprising:
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broadcasting across said network a first address resolution protocol (ARP) request in a first frame format and a second ARP request in a second frame format;
receiving a response ARP packet from a client coupled to said network responsive to said broadcasting of said first ARP request and said second ARP request, said response ARP packet including a media header defining a data format to use for an internet protocol session with said client, said data format comprising one of said first frame format or said second frame format; and
saving said media header at said host-network interface for appending to an IP datagram from a partition of said multiple partitions when said IP datagram is to be routed to said client. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
receiving said IP datagram from said partition of said multiple partitions, said IP datagram to be routed to said client coupled to said network;
retrieving said media header and appending said media header to said IP datagram; and
sending said IP datagram and media header across said network to said client.
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12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
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generating an internet protocol (IP) datagram at one partition of the multiple partitions, said IP datagram being generated without specifying a media header for forwarding the IP datagram across said network;
transferring said IP datagram to said host-network interface for routing to a client coupled to said network; and
appending said media header to said IP datagram at said host-network interface for forwarding said IP datagram across said network to said client.
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13. The method of claim 12, wherein said network comprises a local area network employing a frame format comprising a token ring format, Fiber Distributed Data Interface format, Ethernet 802.3 format or Ethernet DIX format.
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14. The method of claim 12, wherein said saving comprises storing said media header in an address resolution protocol (ARP) cache at said host-network interface.
Specification