Patent ID: 7697536
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for distributing network communications on a computer system, the method comprising: receiving a data packet at a logical switch in the computer system, wherein the data packet includes a packet control descriptor the packet control descriptor comprising a packet status wherein the packet status comprises a normal status, a force out status wherein the force out status indicates that the data packet has been modified to automatically be sent out to a physical port or a re-circulate status wherein the re-circulate status is a status whereby the packet has been designated for a wrap path, the computer system running multiple operating system partitions; wrapping the data packet from one operating system partition of the computer system to another operating system partition of the computer system through a hardware path internal to the computer system when information in the packet indicates a wrap path; and sending the data packet received from an operating system partition to a physical port coupled to an external network, or received from the external network to an operating system partition, when information in the data packet indicates a non-wrap path.