Sharing an ethernet NIC between two sub-systems
US6757725B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 6, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jun 29, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 6, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2101/622
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A management sub-system is associated with a host computer system. The host system includes a network interface controller to facilitate transmissions between the host system and a distributed computer network. In addition, the management sub-system and host computer share an Ethernet network interface controller (NIC), which is assigned at least two different addresses. The management NIC includes decode logic that detects either of the addresses assigned to it, and routes the associated data packet to the management processor, or to the host processor. As a result, all management operations to either the management sub-system or the host system may be routed through the management NIC, while other standard operations may be routed through the host NIC. In addition, the management NIC may be used as a back-up or spare for the host NIC in the event it fails, or becomes overly busy.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.