Patent ID: 7376763
Filing Date: 2008-05-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method in a data processing system for transferring data from a memory to a network adapter, the method comprising: receiving a request to transfer data in the memory to a network adapter; setting a transfer size to align the data with a cache line size if the amount of data to be transferred is unequal to the cache line size, wherein an amount of data is less than or equal to the transfer size, wherein dummy data is included with the amount of data to be transferred to align the data with the cache line size if the amount of data is less than the transfer size, and wherein the amount of data to be transferred is in a frame and has a frame size; setting a valid length indicator, wherein the valid length indicator is set to the amount of data and wherein the network adapter outputs only the amount of data set by the valid length indicator after the data has been transferred to the network adapter; and responsive to receiving the request, sending the transfer size and the valid length indicator to the network adapter and transferring to the network adapter an amount of data equal to the transfer size, wherein the network adapter, upon receiving the amount of data equal to the transfer size, identifies the transfer size and the valid length indicator, discards the dummy data based on the transfer size and the valid length indicator, and outputs the amount of data set by the valid length indicator.