Patent ID: 7996583
Filing Date: 2011-08-09
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: providing a plurality of input/output ports in a network switch, which provide a set of data channels for data communications between one of a plurality of host nodes and one of a plurality of target nodes; providing a plurality of virtual host channel adapters (HCA's) in the network switch, any one of which may be assigned to a work queue pair received via any one of the plurality of input/output ports; receiving a work queue pair via any one of the plurality of input/output ports; scanning the work queue pair for known data formats corresponding to one of a plurality of transport protocols; optionally converting the work queue pair to produce a standard work queue pair data format; assigning the work queue pair to one of the plurality of virtual host channel adapters (HCA's); activating a scheduler in the network switch to sequence processing performed by the plurality of virtual host channel adapters (HCA's), the scheduler being accessible to the plurality of virtual host channel adapters (HCA's); and updating a context associated with the work queue pair, the context being stored in a shared memory of the network switch accessible to the plurality of virtual host channel adapters (HCA's).