Patent ID: 6473803
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
Apparatus enabling a first network protocol provider, executing on a first computer system, and a second network protocol provider, executing on a second computer system, to communicate in their native protocols, comprising:an interconnection between an input/output (I/O) subsystem of the first computer system and an I/O subsystem of the second computer system over which data can be transmitted between said first and second systems, wherein said interconnection operates independent of network layer communications; and a virtual local area network (VLAN) executing on the second computer system that exchanges data between the first and second network protocol providers via the interconnection without interfering with the native network protocols of the first and second network protocol providers, the VLAN comprising a device driver executing on the second computer system that simulates a network interface card (NIC) device driver to the network protocol provider on the second computer system.