Apparatus for filtering inter-node communication in a data processing system
First Claim
1. A network chip for a node in a system area network including a plurality of nodes, said network chip comprising:
- a port for inter-node communication;
means for marking the port to prevent transmission to another node of packets of a first traffic type while permitting transmission to another node of packets of a second traffic type, wherein said means for marking comprises means for marking said port by setting a port configuration register;
a routing table that associates said port with a node identifier of at least one of said plurality of nodes; and
means for, if said port is marked, routing via said port only packets not of said first traffic type, wherein said means for routing routes packets by reference to said routing table.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for communication in a system area network (SAN) data processing system are described. The SAN includes a plurality of interconnected nodes that each have at least one port for communication. To avoid communication-induced errors that may arise, for example, if multiple nodes share the same node ID, the port of a node in the SAN is marked as “fenced” to prevent transmission of packets of a first traffic type while permitting transmission of packets of a second traffic type. The marking of the port may be recorded, for example, in a configuration register of the port. While the port is fenced, only packets of other than the first traffic type are routed via the port. In one preferred embodiment, the second traffic type represents SAN configuration traffic, and the first traffic type represents non-configuration traffic. In this preferred embodiment, the marking of the port may be removed following communication of configuration traffic utilized to negotiate unique node ID throughout the SAN.
14 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A network chip for a node in a system area network including a plurality of nodes, said network chip comprising:
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a port for inter-node communication;
means for marking the port to prevent transmission to another node of packets of a first traffic type while permitting transmission to another node of packets of a second traffic type, wherein said means for marking comprises means for marking said port by setting a port configuration register;
a routing table that associates said port with a node identifier of at least one of said plurality of nodes; and
means for, if said port is marked, routing via said port only packets not of said first traffic type, wherein said means for routing routes packets by reference to said routing table. - View Dependent Claims (2, 6, 7)
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3. A network chip for a node in a system area network including a plurality of nodes, said network chip comprising:
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a port for inter-node communication;
means for marking the port to prevent ant transmission to another node of packets of a first traffic type while permitting transmission to another node of packets of a second traffic type, wherein said first traffic type comprises non-configuration traffic and said second traffic type comprises configuration traffic;
means for, if said port is marked, routing via said port only packets not of said first traffic type; and
means for, following transmission of packets of configuration traffic, removing said marking of said port. - View Dependent Claims (4, 8, 9)
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5. A network chip for a node in a system area network including a plurality of nodes, said network chip comprising:
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a port for inter-node communication;
means for marking the port to prevent transmission to another node of packets of a first traffic type while transmission to another node of packets of a second traffic type, wherein said means for marking comprises means for automatically marking said port if said port is unconnected at initialization of the system area network; and
means for, if said port is marked, routing via said port only packets not of said first traffic type. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification