Patent ID: 7283473
Filing Date: 2007-10-16
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method in a data processing system for logically partitioning resources of a host channel adapter for use in a system area network, comprising: assigning a first logical identifier to a first set of resources of the host channel adapter to thereby define a first logical partition; assigning a second logical identifier to a second set of resources of the host channel adapter to thereby define a second logical partition; and providing a logical switching mechanism for routing of a data packet to one of the first set of resources or the second set of resources based on a logical identifier associated with the data packet, wherein the logical switching mechanism includes queue pair facilities maintained by a hypervisor that identify a physical port to which each queue pair in the host channel adapter is associated, and wherein the logical switching mechanism further includes port facilities maintained by a hypervisor for routing of data packets to queue pairs within the host channel adapter or to physical ports of the host channel adapter, and wherein the port facilities operate to check inbound data packets sent to a particular queue pair to ensure that the inbound data packets meet attribute requirements of the particular queue pair, and wherein the port facilities check outbound data packets to determine whether the destination is another queue pair within the host channel adapter.