Abstract: Systems and methods for providing multicast group multicast local identifier (MLID) dynamic discovery on received multicast messages for a relevant multicast global identifier (MGID) in a high performance computing environment. By allowing InfiniBand (IB) clients to associate local queue pairs (QPs) with the MGID(s) of relevant multicast group(s) without requiring any join request to the subnet manager (SM)/subnet administration (SA), it is possible to receive relevant multicast (MC) messages without imposing the SM/SA overhead of a conventional multicast group join request. After receiving, at an end-node of the subnet, a multicast packet including a multicast global identifier and a multicast local identifier, the end-node can inspect the multicast packet to learn the multicast local identifier and include the learned multicast local identifier in the multicast group record at the end-node for the received multicast global identifier.

Abstract: Systems and methods for host-side configuration of a host channel adapter (HCA). An exemplary embodiment can provide a HCA, including a control circuit with a processor and a memory, and at least one port operative to connect the HCA to a network fabric. Additionally, the HCA can include a subnet management agent (SMA) that executes on the HCA, and a software driver for the HCA that includes a control application programming interface (API) that exposes functionality to hyper-privileged software executing on a host. The hyper-privileged software can set, through the control API, configurable variables stored in the memory of the HCA. Based on the value of the set variables, the HCA can operate in one of a legacy mode or one or more other modes.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for supporting efficient reconfiguration of an interconnection network having a pre-existing routing. An exemplary method can provide a plurality of switches, a plurality of end nodes, and one or more subnet managers, including a master subnet manager. The method can calculate, via the master subnet manager, a first set of one or more leaf-switch to leaf-switch multipaths. The method can store this first set of one or more leaf-switch to leaf-switch multipaths at a metabase. The method can detect a reconfiguration triggering event, and call a new routing for the interconnection network. Finally, the method can reconfigure the network according to the new routing for the interconnection network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supporting SMA level abstractions at router ports for inter-subnet exchange of management information in a high performance computing environment. In accordance with an embodiment, a subnet manager in a local subnet is responsible for establishing and configuring a remote attribute a switch having a switch port configured as a router port. This remote attribute can comprise certain information about the local subnet, including connectivity information and port status information. On receiving a query from a remote subnet manager, via a SMP (or a vendor specific SMP), information contained in the remote attribute can be communicated back to the remote subnet manager.

Abstract: System and method for supporting subnet number aliasing in a high performance computing environment. In accordance with an embodiment, a fabric member can be assigned, by a global fabric manager, an alias fabric local subnet number in order to keep a fabric running after a fabric reconfiguration. The alias fabric local subnet number can be assigned for a period of time, the period of time being static, configurable, or indefinite.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supporting efficient virtualization in a lossless interconnection network. An exemplary method can provide, one or more switches, including at least a leaf switch, a plurality of host channel adapters, wherein each of the host channel adapters comprise at least one virtual function, at least one virtual switch, and at least one physical function, a plurality of hypervisors, and a plurality of virtual machines, wherein each of the plurality of virtual machines are associated with at least one virtual function. The method can arrange the plurality of host channel adapters with one or more of a virtual switch with prepopulated local identifiers (LIDs) architecture or a virtual switch with dynamic LID assignment architecture. The method can assign each virtual switch with a LID. The method can calculate one or more linear forwarding tables based at least upon the LIDs assigned to each of the virtual switches.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing dual multicast local identifiers (MLIDs) per multicast group to facilitate both full and limited partition members in a high performance computing environment. In accordance with an embodiment, in order to avoid the need for the above special handling of P_Key access violations, as well as to ensure complete isolation between limited partition members in terms of multicast traffic, two MLIDs can be allocated to a single MCG, in accordance with an embodiment. A first MLID can be allocated and used by end-ports for sending from full partition members to both full and limited partition members. Additionally, a second MLID can be allocated and used by end-ports for sending from limited partition members to full partition members. Using this scheme, a limited partition member can avoid sending multicast packets to other limited partition members in the MCG.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing multicast group (MCG) membership relative to partition membership in a high performance computing environment. In accordance with an embodiment, by allowing a subnet manager of a local subnet to be instructed that all ports that are members of the relevant partition should be set up as members for a specific multicast group, the SM can perform a more efficient multicast-routing process. It is also possible to limit the IB client interaction with subnet administration conventionally required to handle join and leave operations. Additionally, subnet manager overhead can be reduced by creating a spanning tree for the routing of multicast packets that includes each of the partition members added to the multicast group, instead of creating a spanning tree after each multicast group join request is received, as conventionally required.

Abstract: System and method for supporting node role attributes in a high performance computing environment. In accordance with an embodiment, a node role attribute can comprise a vendor defined subnet management attribute. When a subnet manager attempts to discover a high performance computing environment, such as an InfiniBand subnet, or a switch topology, identifying a topology is quite complex when subnet manager can only observe connectivity, without context behind the connectivity (the roles of the different nodes in the connectivity). However, when a subnet has a node role attribute enabled, the subnet manager can map the interconnect more effectively as it can discover not only the connectivity during the initial sweep, but it can also discover the role of each node discovered, thus leading to a more efficient interconnect discovery.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for implementing a Virtual Switch (vSwitch) architecture that supports transparent virtualization and live migration. In an embodiment, a vSwitch with prepopulated Local Identifiers (LIDs). Another embodiment provides for vSwitch with dynamic LID assignment. Another embodiment provides for vSwitch with prepopulated LIDS and dynamic LID assignment Moreover, embodiments of the present invention provide scalable dynamic network reconfiguration methods which enable live migrations of VMs in network environments.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for supporting efficient reconfiguration of an interconnection network having a pre-existing routing comprising. An exemplary method can provide, a plurality of switches, the plurality switches comprising at least one leaf switch, wherein each of the one or more switches comprise a plurality of ports, and a plurality of end nodes, wherein the plurality of end nodes are interconnected via the one or more switches. The method can detect, by a subnet manager, a reconfiguration triggering event. The method can compute, by the subnet manager, a new routing for the interconnection network, wherein the computing by the subnet manager of the new routing for the interconnection network takes into consideration the pre-existing routing and selects the new routing for the interconnection network that is closest to the pre-existing routing. The method can reconfigure the interconnection network according to the new routing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for path record handling in a fabric without host stack cooperation in a high performance computing environment. In a case where the subnet manager has determined “homogenous subnet/fabric” or “semi-homogenous subnet/fabric” status for the current topology, but is still receiving path queries, the subnet manager can use the relevant status to avoid any route evaluation and generate path record either only based on the configuration status of the requesting port in the homogenous case, or by comparing the configuration status of both ports in the semi-homogenous case.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supporting heterogeneous and asymmetric dual rail fabric configurations in a high performance computing environment. A method can provide, comprising at one or more computers each including one or more microprocessors, a plurality hosts, each of the plurality of hosts comprising at least one dual port adapter, a private fabric, the private fabric comprising two or more switches, and a public fabric, the public fabric comprising a cloud fabric. A workload can be provisioned at a host of the plurality of hosts. A placement policy can be assigned to the provisioned workload. Then, network traffic between peer nodes of the provisioned workload can be assigned to one or more of the private fabric and the public fabric in accordance with the placement policy.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supporting a single logical IP subnet across multiple independent layer 2 subnets in a high performance computing environment. A method can provide, at a computer including one or more microprocessors, a logical device, the logical device being addressed by a layer 3 address, wherein the logical device comprises a plurality of network adapters, each of the network adapters comprising a physical port, and a plurality of switches. The method can arrange the plurality of switches into a plurality of discrete layer 2 subnets. The method can provide a mapping table at the logical device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for on-demand unicast forwarding in a high performance computing environment, in accordance with an embodiment. An exemplary method can provide, at a computer comprising one or more microprocessors, a plurality of switches, a plurality of host channel adapters, and a plurality of hosts. The method can provide, at two rails, redundant connectivity between the plurality of hosts, wherein each rail comprises a set of the plurality of switches. The method can detect a disruption i connectivity between two hosts of the plurality of hosts. The method can re-establish communication between the two hosts of the plurality of hosts via unicast packets on an inter-rail link, the inter-rail link being provided between the two rails.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supporting inter subnet control plane protocol for consistent multicast membership and connectivity across multiple subnets in a high performance computing environment. In accordance with an embodiment, by associating a multicast group with an inter-subnet partition, and enforcing a dedicated router port for the multicast group, multicast loop avoidance can be provided for between connected subnets. Because only a single router port is selected as being capable of handling the MC packet, no other router port in the subnet can then pass a multicast packet back to the originating subnet.

Abstract: Systems and methods for supporting SMA level abstractions at router ports for enablement of data traffic in a high performance computing environment. In accordance with an embodiment, a subnet manager in a local subnet is responsible for enabling data traffic between subnets in a high performance computing environment. The SM can configure and set a data attribute at a switch port configured as a router port such that incoming data packets can be checked against the attribute to determine whether the data packet's destination is allowed or disallowed to receive inter-subnet data traffic.

Abstract: Systems and methods for unicast traffic across multiple subnets in a high performance computing environment. In accordance with an embodiment, a local inter-subnet manager (ISM) can allocate at least one router port in the local subnet for receiving traffic for a relevant end node belonging to an inter-subnet partition (ISP) for each remote subnet that also comprises end nodes sharing a same ISP membership, and can also set up address mappings for the relevant GID(s) (e.g., GID or GUID to LID mapping).

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for supporting scalable multi-homed routing for virtual switch based host channel adapter (HCA) virtualization in a subnet. An exemplary method can provide one or more switches, a plurality of host channel adapters, a plurality of hypervisors, and a plurality of virtual machines. The method can arrange the plurality of host channel adapters with one or more of a virtual switch with prepopulated local identifiers (LIDs) architecture or a virtual switch with dynamic LID assignment architecture. The method can further perform a multi-homed routing for the subnet, wherein at least one of the plurality of host channel adapters comprises two virtual switches, wherein the two virtual switches are treated as endpoints of the subnet, and wherein the multi-homed routing for the subnet ensures that each the two virtual switches are routed through independent paths.

Abstract: Systems and methods for host-side configuration of a host channel adapter (HCA). An exemplary embodiment can provide a HCA, including a control circuit with a processor and a memory, and at least one port operative to connect the HCA to a network fabric. Additionally, the HCA can include a subnet management agent (SMA) that executes on the HCA, and a software driver for the HCA that includes a control application programming interface (API) that exposes functionality to hyper-privileged software executing on a host. The hyper-privileged software can set, through the control API, configurable variables stored in the memory of the HCA. Based on the value of the set variables, the HCA can operate in one of a legacy mode or one or more other modes.