Patent ID: 7447778
Filing Date: 2008-11-04
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A network system comprising: a plurality of servers, where each server includes a host channel adapter (HCA); and a shared input/output (I/O) subsystem directly connected to each of said plurality of servers via each of said HCA, wherein each HCA communicates with the shared I/O subsystem by sending I/O requests through a switching fabric and the shared I/O subsystem processes the I/O requests, obviating a need for a dedicated I/O subsystem for each of the plurality of servers; and wherein the shared I/O subsystem includes: (a) a plurality of I/O interface unit for providing a connection to the plurality of servers to a different type of network; wherein each I/O interface unit executing code for a link layer, a transport layer and an application protocol, individually provides all the functions of the shared I/O subsystem; and connecting two or more I/O interface units provides a larger scalable shared I/O subsystem; wherein each I/O interface unit includes: (b) a switch card for operationally coupling the plurality of I/O interface units, wherein the switch card receives a data packet from one I/O interface unit and directs the data packet to another I/O interface unit, with the two I/O interface units being coupled to different computing systems following different network protocols; and the switch card includes a controller for implementing functions of an I/O management unit, a module management unit that facilitates communication between the I/O management unit and a switching unit.