Patent ID: 8108882
Filing Date: 2012-01-31
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for interfacing an operating system with a network interface device, the method comprising: establishing, by a processing unit of a storage processor, a driver relationship between a network interface driver of the operating system executed by the processing unit and the network interface device of the storage processor, the network interface device being configured to carry out multiple functions through the operating system of the processing unit, the storage processor configured to exchange data read/write requests between a data storage device and a host device; associating, by the processing unit, the network interface driver with a first driver of the operating system to provide a first function pathway between the network interface device and the first driver of the operating system through the network interface driver; and associating, by the processing unit, the network interface driver with a second driver of the operating system to provide a second function pathway between the network interface device and the second driver of the operating system through the network interface driver, the first function pathway and the second function pathway allowing the network interface device to carry out the multiple functions through the operating system; wherein establishing the driver relationship comprises: detecting, by the processing unit, a single network function corresponding to the network interface device, the single network function representing a first network sub-function and a second network sub-function; and associating, by the processing unit, the single network function of the network interface device with the network interface driver, the network interface device being configured to carry out the first network sub-function and the second network sub-function through the operating system via the network interface driver; and further comprising: receiving, by the processing unit of the storage processor, a communication signal from the network interface device of the storage processor, the communications signal directed from the host device to a single network address associated with the network interface device, the network interface device of the storage processor being distinct from the processing unit of the storage processor; directing, by the processing unit, the communication signal (i) to the first function pathway when the communication signal is associated with the first network sub-function, the first network sub-function configured as Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) communication and (ii) to the second function pathway when the communication signal is associated with the second network sub-function, the second network sub-function configured as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) communication.