Method and apparatus for using a single multi-function adapter with different operating systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- an input/output adapter to be connected to a network and to a host interface of a host computer, the adapter including capabilities, the host computer comprising a host central processing unit and being capable of using a plurality of operating systems that have techniques to interface with the capabilities, the adapter including function blocks to provide the capabilities, the adapter also including network ports to be connected to the network and being coupled to the function blocks;
another interface to be connected to the host interface and to present the capabilities in a manner corresponding to an operating system technique to interface one of the operating systems with the capabilities; and
at least two of the function blocks being protocol modules associated with respective protocols, the protocol modules being to perform processing related to protocol offload and remote direct memory access (RDMA) protocol, the adapter also to provide a switching function to provide arbitration in the adapter to selectively control data transfer between the ports, the protocol modules, and memory.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible arrangement allows a single arrangement of Ethernet channel adapter (ECA) hardware functions to appear as needed to conform to various operating system deployment models. A PCI interface presents a logical model of virtual devices appropriate to the relevant operating system. Mapping parameters and values are associated with the packet streams to allow the packet streams to be properly processed according to the presented logical model and needed operations. Mapping occurs at both the host side and at the network side to allow the multiple operations of the ECA to be performed while still allowing proper delivery at each interface.
119 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising:
-
an input/output adapter to be connected to a network and to a host interface of a host computer, the adapter including capabilities, the host computer comprising a host central processing unit and being capable of using a plurality of operating systems that have techniques to interface with the capabilities, the adapter including function blocks to provide the capabilities, the adapter also including network ports to be connected to the network and being coupled to the function blocks; another interface to be connected to the host interface and to present the capabilities in a manner corresponding to an operating system technique to interface one of the operating systems with the capabilities; and at least two of the function blocks being protocol modules associated with respective protocols, the protocol modules being to perform processing related to protocol offload and remote direct memory access (RDMA) protocol, the adapter also to provide a switching function to provide arbitration in the adapter to selectively control data transfer between the ports, the protocol modules, and memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method comprising:
-
coupling an input/output adapter to a network and to a host interface of a host computer, the adapter including capabilities, the host computer comprising a host central processing unit and being capable of using a plurality of operating systems that have techniques to interface with the capabilities, the adapter including function blocks to provide the capabilities, the adapter also including network ports to be connected to the network and being coupled to the function blocks; and coupling another interface to the host interface and so as to present the capabilities in a manner corresponding to an operating system technique to interface one of the operating systems with the capabilities; at least two of the function blocks being protocol modules associated with respective protocols, the protocol modules being to perform processing related to protocol offload and remote direct memory access (RDMA) protocol, the adapter also to provide a switching function to provide arbitration in the adapter to selectively control data transfer between the ports, the protocol modules, and memory. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification