Dynamic configuration of network data flow using a shared I/O subsystem
First Claim
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1. In a shared I/O subsystem coupled to a plurality of servers having a forwarding table and a plurality of I/O interface units, a method comprising:
- (a) populating the forwarding table with a plurality of entries that correspond to each of the I/O interface units, where the plurality of entries associate a virtual port in each of the I/O interface units with a virtual network interface card executed in each of a plurality of servers coupled to the shared I/O subsystem via a switch fabric; and
the forwarding table is executed in each of the I/O interface units that operate as a network line card providing a connection to a different network configuration;
wherein each virtual network interface card for the plurality of servers communicate with a virtual port in each of the I/O interface units via a virtual bus; and
a plurality of virtual network interface cards share a hardware network interface card to communicate with networks operating in different protocols;
(b) receiving a data packet from one of the I/O interface units, the data packet including destination port information;
(c) selecting an entry from the forwarding table based on the destination port information received with the data packet, and applying at least one mask to the address bits from the selected forwarding table entry; and
(d) discarding the data packet if application of the at least one mask to the address bits of the selected forwarding table entry fails to result in identification of a valid destination.
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Abstract
A shared I/O subsystem having a forwarding table and a plurality of I/O interfaces. The forwarding table has a plurality of entries that correspond to each of the I/O interfaces. The shared I/O subsystem receives a data packet from one of the I/O interfaces where the data packet includes a plurality of address bits, applies the address bits of the data packet to the forwarding table, and discards the data packet if applying the address bits of the data packet to the forwarding table fails to result in identification of a valid destination.
108 Citations
21 Claims
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1. In a shared I/O subsystem coupled to a plurality of servers having a forwarding table and a plurality of I/O interface units, a method comprising:
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(a) populating the forwarding table with a plurality of entries that correspond to each of the I/O interface units, where the plurality of entries associate a virtual port in each of the I/O interface units with a virtual network interface card executed in each of a plurality of servers coupled to the shared I/O subsystem via a switch fabric; and
the forwarding table is executed in each of the I/O interface units that operate as a network line card providing a connection to a different network configuration;
wherein each virtual network interface card for the plurality of servers communicate with a virtual port in each of the I/O interface units via a virtual bus; and
a plurality of virtual network interface cards share a hardware network interface card to communicate with networks operating in different protocols;(b) receiving a data packet from one of the I/O interface units, the data packet including destination port information; (c) selecting an entry from the forwarding table based on the destination port information received with the data packet, and applying at least one mask to the address bits from the selected forwarding table entry; and (d) discarding the data packet if application of the at least one mask to the address bits of the selected forwarding table entry fails to result in identification of a valid destination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A shared I/O subsystem comprising:
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a plurality of I/O interface units; and a forwarding table;
wherein the shared I/O subsystem populates the forwarding table with a plurality of entries that correspond to each of the I/O interface units receives a data packet from one of the I/O interfaces, the data packet including destination port information, selects an entry from the forwarding table based on the destination port information received with the data packet, applies at least one mask to the address bits from the selected forwarding table entry, and discards the data packet if application of the at least one mask to the address bits of the data selected forwarding table entry fails to result in identification of a valid destination, wherein the plurality of entries associate a virtual port in each of the I/O interface units with a virtual network interface card executed in each of a plurality of servers coupled to the shared I/O subsystem via a switch fabric; and
the forwarding table is executed in each of the I/O interface units that operate as a network line card providing a connection to a different network configuration; and
each virtual network interface card for the plurality of servers communicate with a virtual port in each of the I/O interface units via a virtual bus; and
a plurality of virtual network interface cards share a hardware network interface card to communicate with networks operating in different protocols.
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21. A shared I/O subsystem having a forwarding table and a plurality of I/O interface units, comprising:
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means for populating the forwarding table with a plurality of entries that correspond to each of the I/O interface units; means for receiving a data packet from one of the I/O interface units, the data packet including destination port information; means for selecting an entry from the forwarding table based on the destination port information received with the data packet, and applying at least one mask to the address bits from the selected forwarding table entry; and means for discarding the data packet if application of the at least one mask to the address bits of the selected forwarding table entry fails to result in identification of a valid destination;
wherein the plurality of entries associate a virtual port in each of the I/O interface units with a virtual network interface card executed in each of a plurality of servers coupled to the shared I/O subsystem via a switch fabric; and
the forwarding table is executed in each of the I/O interface units that operate as a network line card providing a connection to a different network configuration; and
each virtual network interface card for the plurality of servers communicate with a virtual port in each of the I/O interface units via a virtual bus; and
a plurality of virtual network interface cards share a hardware network interface card to communicate with networks operating in different protocols.
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Specification