Virtual input/output server
US7783788B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 18, 2007 |
| Grant date | Aug 24, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 18, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/5077
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to virtualized access to input/output (I/O) subsystems. In one implementation, the present invention allows multiple stand-alone application servers or virtual servers to share one or more I/O subsystems, such as host-bus adapters and network interface cards. In one implementation, I/O access is managed by one or more virtual I/O servers. A virtual I/O server includes a multiplexer, and associated modules, that connect application servers over an I/O switch fabric with one or more HBA and/or NIC drivers. Implementations of the present invention can be configured to consolidate I/O access, allowing multiple servers to share one or more HBAs and NICs; dynamic control over network and storage I/O bandwidth; and provisioning of network and storage I/O access across multiple application servers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.