Patent · US Active

Apparatus and methods for clustering multiple independent PCI express hierarchies

US7562176B2 · kind B2 · utility

29Cited by
0References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 28, 2007
Grant dateJul 14, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 18, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F13/4022
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and methods for clustering multiple PCI Express hierarchies to enable access of components in different hierarchies. Each PCI Express hierarchy includes a root device as well as a cluster port for coupling each hierarchy to each other hierarchy of a physical cluster through a PCI Express switched fabric. Memory addresses and transaction IDs are re-mapped by the cluster port of each hierarchy to partition the PCI Express space of the system of multiple hierarchies. A first portion of the partitioned space is reserved for access to local components within a hierarchy. A second portion of the space is used to access remote components of other hierarchies from within a different first hierarchy. The address and transaction ID values exchanged in such remote transactions are re-mapped and used by the cluster port of each hierarchy to route exchanges between hierarchies using standard PCIe root devices, endpoint devices, and switches.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.