Network data flow optimization

• US 6,681,262 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: InfiniCon Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Rimmer, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean, Frantz B.
• Application Number:
  US10/186,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20040003140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 709/245, 709/234, 709/249, 709/250, 370/360, 370/389
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/742 Route cache; Operation thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/3009 Header conversion, routing tables or routing tags
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/358 Infiniband Switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/602 Multilayer or multiprotocol switching, e.g. IP switching

Abstract

A shared I/O subsystem having a plurality of ports, where each of the ports includes a plurality of address bits and first and second masks associated therewith. The shared I/O subsystem receives a data packet from a first of the plurality of ports, selects from one or more tables the plurality of address bits and the first and second masks associated with the first port, applies an AND function to the address bits and the first mask associated with the first port, applies an OR function to the result of applying the AND function and the second mask associated with the first port, and selectively transmits the data packet to one or more of the ports in accordance with a result of applying the OR function.

Claims

1. In a shared I/O subsystem having a plurality of ports, each of the ports having a plurality of address bits and first and second masks associated therewith, a method comprising:

(a) receiving a data packet from a first of the plurality of ports;

(b) selecting from one or more tables the plurality of address bits and the first and second masks associated with the first port;

(c) applying an AND function to the address bits and the first mask associated with the first port;

(d) applying an OR function to the result of step (c) and the second mask associated with the first port; and

(e) selectively transmitting the data packet to one or more of the ports in accordance with a result of step (d).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mask associated with each of the ports corresponds to a logical LAN switch mask, and the second mask associated with each of the ports corresponds to a span port mask.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the ports is a virtual port.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the ports is an I/O interface.

5. The method of a claim 4, wherein the I/O interface is communicatively coupled to at least one of a network, an appliance, and a device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the network is a Storage Area Network.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the network is an InterProcess Communications Network.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the network is a Local Area Network.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the network is a Wide Area Network.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the network is a Metropolitan Area Network.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the network is a System Area Network.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the I/O interface is operatively coupled to a network unit including at least one of a switch, a hub, a router, and a bridge.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the ports is an Ethernet Media Access Control (MAC) port.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the address bits include at least one of MAC address bits and VLAN address bits.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the data packet is one from the group of:

a Multicast, a Unicast, and a Broadcast.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the ports is communicatively coupled to a computer system having one or more MAC addresses.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the ports are communicatively coupled to a plurality of computer systems, and wherein one of the computer systems uses an operating system that is different from an operating system used by one other of the computer systems.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the data packet conforms to a protocol that uses at least one of a Send/Receive message passing and a Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA).

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the data packet is filtered in the shared I/O subsystem.

20. A shared I/O subsystem comprising:

a plurality of ports, each of the ports having a plurality of address bits and first and second masks associated therewith; and

one or more tables;

wherein the shared I/O subsystem receives a data packet from a first of the plurality of ports, selects from one or more tables the plurality of address bits and the first and second masks associated with the first port, applies an AND function to the address bits and the first mask associated with the first port, applies an OR function to the result of applying the AND function and the second mask associated with the first port, and selectively transmits the data packet to one or more of the ports in accordance with a result of applying the OR function.

21. A shared I/O subsystem having a plurality of ports, each of the ports having a plurality of address bits and first and second masks associated therewith, comprising:

means for receiving a data packet from a first of the plurality of ports;

means for selecting from one or more tables the plurality of address bits and the first and second masks associated with the first port;

means for applying an AND function to the address bits and the first mask associated with the first port;

means for applying an OR function to the result of applying the AND function and the second mask associated with the first port; and

means for selectively transmitting the data packet to one or more of the ports in accordance with a result of applying the OR function.