System and method for implementing virtual adapters and virtual interfaces in a network system
US7171495B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 28, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 30, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 9, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L69/324
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A shared I/O subsystem that couples a plurality of computer systems to at least one shared I/O interface. The shared I/O subsystem includes a plurality of virtual I/O interfaces that are communicatively coupled to the computer systems. Each of the computer systems includes a virtual adapter that communicates with one of the virtual I/O interfaces. The shared I/O subsystem further includes a forwarding function having a forwarding table. The forwarding table includes a plurality of entries corresponding to each of the virtual I/O interfaces. The forwarding function receives a first I/O packet from one of the virtual I/O interfaces and uses the forwarding table to direct the first I/O packet to at least one of a physical adapter associated with the at least one shared I/O interface and one or more of other ones of the virtual I/O interfaces. The forwarding function also receives a second I/O packet from the physical adapter and uses the forwarding table to direct the second I/O packet to one or more of the virtual I/O interfaces.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.