Patent ID: 7784095
Filing Date: 2010-08-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: establishing a virtual private network (VPN) connection to a remote gateway using a network adapter executing Firmware stored on a non-volatile memory device coupled with the network adapter, wherein the network adapter establishes the VPN connection independent of an operating system (OS) of a platform including the network adapter and without using an OS network driver of the OS of the platform, wherein the network adapter includes a processor element for executing the Firmware; generating an event by the network adapter executing the Firmware to notify the OS network driver through a bus interface port of the platform that the VPN connection has been established by the network adapter; and responding to a request from the OS network driver to provide network information so that the OS network driver can take over control of communications with the remote gateway over the VPN connection established by the network adapter.