Patent ID: 7702742
Filing Date: 2010-04-20
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: receiving, by a network interface of a computer system, a plurality of memory transaction messages (MTMs) from a local memory controller of the computer system, wherein each MTM of the plurality of MTMs comprises a set of information and conforms to a processor bus protocol that is used by one or more local processors of the computer system or the local memory controller to access a local memory of the computer system; determining, by the network interface, that the plurality of MTMs are destined for a particular remote node; determining, by the network interface, for each MTM of the plurality of MTMs, a transaction type; composing, by the network interface, for each MTM of the plurality of MTMs, a network packet to encapsulate within the network packet at least a portion of the information contained in that MTM, thereby giving rise to a plurality of network packets; assigning to each network packet, by the network interface, one of a plurality of sending priorities based upon the transaction type of the MTM that that packet is encapsulating and based upon ordering rules associated with the processor bus protocol that defines relative priorities among MTMs exchanged between (i) one or more local processors or the local memory controller and (ii) the local memory; organizing, by the network interface, the network packets into groups based upon sending priority; sending, by the network interface, the network packets into a lossy network destined for the particular remote node, wherein the network packets are sent in an order determined based, at least partially, upon the sending priorities of the network packets; and ensuring, by the network interface, that a particular subset of the network packets having a particular sending priority are received by the particular remote node in a proper sequence.