Zero packet loss energy efficient ethernet link transition via driver fast failover
First Claim
1. A method, in a data processing system, for energy efficient link transition with zero packet loss, the method comprising:
- activating a primary network adapter in low power mode;
disabling a secondary network adapter;
configuring a switch that is coupled to the primary network adapter and the secondary network adapter to route incoming traffic from a sender to the primary network adapter; and
responsive to detecting high utilization of the primary network adapter, activating the secondary network adapter in high speed mode, completing all in-process transmit requests over the primary network adapter, configuring the switch to route data to and from the secondary network adapter, and disabling the primary network adapter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanism for zero packet loss with energy efficient Ethernet link transition via driver fast failover is provided. By default, the mechanism uses a primary adapter running at low speed with low energy usage and a secondary adapter that is disabled. This default configuration is used during periods of low link utilization. When system or input/output load is such that high speed is required, then the mechanism enables the secondary adapter to its highest supported link speed. All transmit traffic in progress running over the primary adapter will complete, and upon completion, the driver generates an address resolution request and sends the request over the secondary adapter. After this process completes, the primary adapter transitions to link down and zero packet loss transition completes.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, in a data processing system, for energy efficient link transition with zero packet loss, the method comprising:
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activating a primary network adapter in low power mode; disabling a secondary network adapter; configuring a switch that is coupled to the primary network adapter and the secondary network adapter to route incoming traffic from a sender to the primary network adapter; and responsive to detecting high utilization of the primary network adapter, activating the secondary network adapter in high speed mode, completing all in-process transmit requests over the primary network adapter, configuring the switch to route data to and from the secondary network adapter, and disabling the primary network adapter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer readable program stored therein, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computing device, causes the computing device to:
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activate a primary network adapter in low power mode; disable a secondary network adapter; configure a switch that is coupled to the primary network adapter and the secondary network adapter to route incoming traffic from a sender to the primary network adapter; and responsive to detecting high utilization of the primary network adapter, activating the secondary network adapter in high speed mode, complete all in-process transmit requests over the primary network adapter, configure the switch to route data to and from the secondary network adapter, and disable the primary network adapter. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus, comprising:
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a network interface device, wherein the network interface device comprises a primary network adapter, a secondary network adapter, and a switch that is coupled to the primary network adapter and the secondary network adapter; a device driver associated with the network interface device; and a utilization detection component, wherein the device driver is configured to activate the primary network adapter in low power mode, disable the secondary network adapter, and configure the switch to route incoming traffic from a sender to the primary network adapter; and wherein the device driver is configured to activate the secondary network adapter in high speed mode, complete all in-process transmit requests over the primary network adapter, configure the switch to route data to and from the secondary network adapter, and disable the primary network adapter responsive to the utilization detection component detecting high utilization of the primary network adapter. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification