Patent ID: 7562176
Filing Date: 2009-07-14
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A system comprising: a plurality of PCI Express controllers each comprising a PCI Express hierarchy, each hierarchy having an associated root controller, and each hierarchy having an associated cluster port; and a PCI Express switch coupled to the cluster port of each hierarchy through a physical PCI Express bus, wherein the PCI Express switch is not multi-root aware (“MRA”), wherein the cluster port of each hierarchy enables controlled access through the switch by a first hierarchy to components within any other hierarchy of the plurality of hierarchies, and wherein the cluster port of each hierarchy partitions the PCI Express space of the system such that a first portion of the space is used within said each hierarchy to reference local components within said each hierarchy and such that a second portion of the space is used within said each hierarchy to reference remote components within other hierarchies of the plurality of hierarchies.