End node partitioning using LMC for a system area network

• US 7,099,955 B1
• Filed: 10/19/2000
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Thurber, Steven Mark, Recio, Renato John, Gregg, Thomas Anthony, Pfister, Gregory Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIDDIQI, MOHAMMAD A
• Application Number:
  US09/692,351
• Time in Patent Office: 2,140 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 709238-245, 709220-222, 375/200, 710/316
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing

Abstract

A method for routing System Area Network (SAN) packets to multiple partitions within a single end node is provided. A range of Local Identification addresses (LIDs) are assigned to a channel adapter port within the SAN. Lower order bits within the LID are then assigned to select the particular partition in the end node. The Local ID Mask Control (LMC) field is used to assign multiple LIDs to a single port, using those low order bits to then route the message to the appropriate partition in the end node.

Claims

1. A method for routing data packets to multiple partitions within a single end node, comprising:

assigning a range of local identification addresses (LIDs) to a channel adapter port in an end node; and

assigning bits within the local identification addresses to specify which of several partitions within the end node is being addressed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bits are lower order bits.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the channel adapter port is connected to a system area network.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the network contains two raised to the N power end nodes, switches, and routers; and

the number of bits in a local identification address equals N.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the lower order bits assigned to partitions are designated by a local identification mask control (LMC) field.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the local identification mask control can be any number of bits.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein a number of lower order bits assigned to addressing within a port is up to two raised to the local identification mask control power.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the different local identification addresses of a port identify different partitions within the end node.

9. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for use in a data process system for routing data packets to multiple partitions within a single end node, the computer program product comprising:

instructions for assigning a local identification address to a channel adapter port in an end node; and

instructions for assigning bits within the local identification address to a specific partition within the end node.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the bits are lower order bits.

11. The computer program product according to claim 9, further comprising instructions for connecting the channel adapter port to a system area network.

12. The computer program product according to claim 9, wherein:

if the network contains two raised to the N power end nodes, switches, and routers;

the number of bits in a local identification address equals N.

13. The computer program product according to claim 10, wherein the lower order bits assigned to partitions are designated by a local identification mask control (LMC) field.

14. The computer program product according to claim 13, wherein the local identification mask control can be any number of bits.

15. The computer program product according to claim 13, wherein the number of lower order bits assigned to addressing within a port is up to two raised to the local identification mask control power.

16. The computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the different local identification addresses of a port identify different partitions within the end node.

17. A system for routing data packets to multiple partitions within a single end node, comprising:

means for assigning a local identification address (LID) to a channel adapter port in a network end node; and

means for assigning lower order bits within the local identification addresses to a specific partition within the end node.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the channel adapter port is connected to a system area network.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein:

the network contains two raised to the N power end nodes, switches, and routers; and

the number of bits in a local identification address equals N.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein the lower order bits assigned to partitions are designated by a local identification mask control (LMC) field.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the LMC can be any number of bits.

22. The system according to claim 20, wherein the number of lower order bits assign to addressing within a port is up to two raised to the local identification mask control power.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the different local identifier addresses of a port identify different partitions within the end node.