Patent ID: 9210140
Filing Date: 2015-12-08
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A network interface device providing a set of virtual network interfaces, comprising: one or more physical network ports and being configured to communicate with a data processing system via an internal physical data bus, and the network interface device configured to, on receiving a network message having one or more predetermined characteristics and comprising an authentication key and configuration instructions defining a new virtual network interface: verify the authentication key; and when the authentication key is successfully verified, create the new virtual network interface defined in the configuration instructions of the network message, wherein the virtualized data processing system is configured further to run a plurality of quest operating systems running atop a hypervisor, the network interface device being configured to support a different virtual network interface for each of the plurality of guest operating systems, and wherein the network interface device is configured to, in conjunction with creating the new virtual network interface defined in the configuration instructions, via a network interface device driver of the network interface device, message the hypervisor to map the new virtual network interface into a new guest operating system created at the data processing system.