Abstract: Methods and apparatus for communicating data traffic using switch fabric dispersion are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first tier of switch elements; and a second tier of switch elements operationally coupled with the first tier of switch elements. In the example apparatus, the first tier of switch elements is configured to receive a data packet from a source. The first tier of switch elements is also configured to route the data packet to the second tier of switch elements in accordance with a dispersion function, where the dispersion function is based on a dispersion tag associated with the data packet. The first tier of switch elements is still further configured to transmit the data packet to a destination for the data packet after receiving it from the second tier of switch elements.

Abstract: System, method and apparatus for network congestion management and network resource isolation. A high level network usage and device architecture is provided that can satisfy buffering and network bandwidth resource management for data center networks. The congestion management can be defined to bring the reaction point closer to the network ports. In one embodiment, the reaction point is resident in a network interface card (NIC).

Abstract: A universal network interface controller (UNIC) is provided for interfacing a host computer to a switch fabric, a packet network, or both. The UNIC includes ingress transmit logic designed to transmit switch fabric data in memory associated with the host computer to a switch fabric. The UNIC further includes egress receive logic designed to receive switch fabric data from the switch fabric to store the received switch fabric data in the host memory associated with the host computer. As an option, the ingress transmit logic may be further designed to transmit packet network data in memory associated with the host computer to a packet network, such as Ethernet, and the egress receive logic may be further designed to receive the packet network data from the packet network and to store the received switch fabric data and the received packet network data in the host memory associated with the host computer.

Abstract: A method of transferring data in a network is provided. Data is received at a sub-switch of a first bundled switch having a plurality of sub-switches, the sub-switch being configured to only couple to connections external to the first bundled switch. The method also includes transferring the data from the first bundled switch using a multi-lane cable coupled to a second bundled switch, a first end of the multi-lane cable coupled to a sub-switch in the first bundled switch and a second end of the multi-lane cable coupled to at least two sub-switches in the second bundled switch.

Abstract: A system, method and a computer readable medium for reducing hash polarization in a network, are provided. A field in a packet is identified at a first device in a network that propagates the packet though the network. The field is immutable at the first device in a network but is mutable as the packet propagates to other devices. Based on a value of the field, a hash function is selected from multiple hash functions such that a different hash function is selected for a different value of the field. The selected hash function determines a resource within the first device that identifies one of the other devices in the network next to receive the packet from the first device.

Abstract: A method of transferring data in a network is provided. Data is received at a sub-switch of a first bundled switch having a plurality of sub-switches, the sub-switch being configured to only couple to connections external to the first bundled switch. The method also includes transferring the data from the first bundled switch using a multi-lane cable coupled to a second bundled switch, a first end of the multi-lane cable coupled to a sub-switch in the first bundled switch and a second end of the multi-lane cable coupled to at least two sub-switches in the second bundled switch.

Abstract: A system, method and a computer readable medium for processing packets transmitted using relaxed order in an ordered multi-path network are provided. Packets associated with a data flow from the ordered multi-path network are received out of order. The received packets are reassembled into a sequential order, without gaps, prior to being delivered to a protocol stock for sequential processing.

Abstract: A network-displaced direct storage architecture transports storage commands over a network interface. In one implementation, the architecture maps, at hosts, block storage commands to remote direct memory access operations (e.g., over converged Ethernet). The mapped operations are communicated across the network to a network storage appliance. At the network storage appliance, network termination receives the mapped commands, extracts the operation and data, and passes the operation and data to a storage device that implements the operation on a memory.

Abstract: Systems and methods for handling virtual machine packets are provided. In some aspects, a method includes receiving, by a network interface controller, an indicator of a packet from a virtual machine. The indicator bypasses a virtual switch coupled to the virtual machine. The method also includes determining, in response to receiving the indicator, whether the packet is designated for accelerated processing. The method also includes providing the indicator to the virtual switch for processing if the packet is determined not to be designated for accelerated processing. The method also includes processing, by the network interface controller, the packet for transmission if the packet is determined to be designated for accelerated processing.

Abstract: An apparatus for multiservice input/output switching includes a plurality of logical storage endpoints coupled to a plurality of remote servers via native input/output bus, a plurality of downstream ports coupled to a plurality of persistent storage drives, a storage transaction switch, and at least one processor configured to communicate with the plurality of remote servers and the plurality of persistent storage drives. The storage transaction switch translates received storage transaction using configured mappings from the server view to the physical view of persistent storage drives. Optionally, a network switch is integrated in the apparatus. Additionally, corresponding methods and computer readable medium embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A universal network interface controller (UNIC) is provided for interfacing a host computer to a switch fabric, a packet network, or both. The UNIC includes encapsulation logic configured to encapsulate a CBP communication for transmission as switch fabric data on the switch fabric. Finally, the UNIC includes transmit logic configured to transmit the encapsulated CBP communication to the remote CBP device using the switch fabric.

Abstract: A method for sharing a network interface among multiple hosts and includes providing a network interface, associating a first set of the plurality of memory access channels with a first host, and associating a second set of the plurality of memory access channels with a second host is disclosed. The network interface including a plurality of memory access channels.

Abstract: A system and method for credit-based link level flow control. In one embodiment, a byte-based flow control mechanism is based on a sender effectively maintaining a buffer state at the receiver. In maintaining a buffer state at the receiver, the sender is provided with information regarding byte expansion at the receiver. This byte-expansion information can be used by the sender to identify the amount of additional storage needed by the receiver when storing a packet transmitted by the sender in the receiver's packet buffer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficient interrupt event notification for a scalable input/output device in a network system. A network interface unit is operably connected to a plurality of processing entities and associated memory units. At least one status register in the network interface unit contains information relating to a process to be performed by at least one processing entity communicated to the processing entity by an interrupt event notification. Shared memory space comprises a mailbox storage register operable to store an image of the interrupt information stored in the status register of the network interface unit. A processing entity can directly access the process information stored in the mailbox status register thereby reducing system latency associated with reading information in the status register. Updated process status information in the network interface status register may be read by the processing entity on an interleaved basis while executing a process.

Abstract: A universal network interface controller (UNIC) is provided for interfacing a host computer to a switch fabric, a packet network, or both. The UNIC includes ingress transmit logic designed to transmit switch fabric data in memory associated with the host computer to a switch fabric. The UNIC further includes egress receive logic designed to receive switch fabric data from the switch fabric to store the received switch fabric data in the host memory associated with the host computer. As an option, the ingress transmit logic may be further designed to transmit packet network data in memory associated with the host computer to a packet network, such as Ethernet, and the egress receive logic may be further designed to receive the packet network data from the packet network and to store the received switch fabric data and the received packet network data in the host memory associated with the host computer.

Abstract: A method of transferring data in a network is provided. Data is received at a sub-switch of a first bundled switch having a plurality of sub-switches, the sub-switch being configured to only couple to connections external to the first bundled switch. The method also includes transferring the data from the first bundled switch using a multi-lane cable coupled to a second bundled switch, a first end of the multi-lane cable coupled to a sub-switch in the first bundled switch and a second end of the multi-lane cable coupled to at least two sub-switches in the second bundled switch.

Abstract: A method of resolving mutex contention within a network interface unit which includes providing a plurality of memory access channels, and moving a thread via at least one of the plurality of memory access channels, the plurality of memory access channels allowing moving of the thread while avoiding mutex contention when moving the thread via the at least one of the plurality of memory access channels is disclosed.

Abstract: A network system that provides for separating and isolating control of processing entities in a network interface. A network interface unit is operably connected to a plurality of processing entities and a plurality of memory units that define a shared memory space. The network interface unit further comprises a memory access module that includes a plurality of memory access channels, a packet classifier, and a plurality of scheduling control modules that are operable to control processing of data transported by the network. One of the processing entities operates as a hypervisor to configure control resources to isolate operation of the plurality of data processing partitions to process data transported by the network system. The packet classifier is operable to provide an association between packets and the plurality of asymmetrical data processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mapping sessions to preassigned processing entities in a network system. A network interface unit is operably connected to a plurality of processing entities and a plurality of memory units that define a shared memory space. The network interface unit further comprises a memory access module that includes a plurality of memory access channels, a packet classifier, and a plurality of scheduling control modules that are operable to control processing of data transported by the network. In various embodiments of the invention, predetermined subsets of the plurality of processing entities are operably associated with predetermined subsets of the plurality of memory units thereby defining a plurality of asymmetrical data processing partitions. The packet classifier is operable to provide an association between packets and the plurality of asymmetrical data processing partitions based upon an association with a predetermined session.

Abstract: A method of performing a lookup within a network interface unit which includes providing a plurality of memory access channels, performing a multilayer lookup operation on a packet, and refining a selection of one of the plurality of memory access channels based upon the multilayer lookup operation is disclosed.