Abstract: A network interface device comprises a streaming data processing path comprising a first data processing engine and hubs. A first scheduler associated with a first hub controls an output of data by the first hub to the first data processing engine and a second scheduler associated with a second hub controls an output of data by the second hub. The first hub is arranged upstream of the first data processing engine on the data processing path and is configured to receive data from a first upstream data path entity and from a first data processing entity implemented in programmable circuitry via a data ingress interface of the first hub. The first data processing engine is configured to receive data from the first hub, process the received data and output the processed data to the second hub arranged downstream of first data processing engine.

Abstract: A network interface device comprises a first area of trust comprising a first part of the network interface device, the first part comprising one or more first kernels. A second area of trust comprising a second part of the network interface device different to said first part is provided, the second part comprising one or more second kernels. A communication link is provided between the first area of trust and the second area of trust. At least one of the first and second areas of trust is provided with isolation circuitry configured to control which data which is passed to the other of the first and second areas via the communication link.

Abstract: A network interface device having a hardware module comprising a plurality of processing units. Each of the plurality of processing units is associated with its own at least one predefined operation. At a compile time, the hardware module is configured by arranging at least some of the plurality of processing units to perform their respective at least one operation with respect to a data packet in a certain order so as to perform a function with respect to that data packet. A compiler is provide to assign different processing stages to each processing unit. A controller is provided to switch between different processing circuitry on the fly so that one processing circuitry may be used whilst another is being compiled.

Abstract: A network interface device has a data source, a data sink and an interconnect configured to receive data from the data source and to output data to the data sink. The interconnect has a memory having memory cells. Each memory cell has a width which matches a bus segment width. The memory is configured to receive a first write output with a width corresponding to the bus segment width. The write output comprises first data to be written to a first memory cell of the memory, the first data being from the data source.

Abstract: A network interface device has data path circuitry configured to cause data to be moved into and/or out of the network interface device. The data path circuitry comprises: first circuitry for providing one or more data processing operations; and interface circuitry supporting channels. The channels comprises command channels receiving command information from a plurality of data path circuitry user instances, event channels providing respective command completion information to the plurality of data path user instances; and data channels providing the associated data.

Abstract: A network interface device comprises an input configured to receive a storage response comprising a plurality of packets of data, one or more packets comprising a header part and data to be stored, the header part comprising a transport protocol header and a data storage application header. A first packet processor is configured to receive two or more of said plurality of packets and perform transport protocol processing of the received packets to provide transport protocol processed packets A second packet processor configured to receive the transport protocol processed packets from the first packet processor, to write the data to be stored of the received packets to memory and to provide the data storage application header and a pointer to a location in the memory to which the data has been written.

Abstract: A network interface device has a data source, a data sink and an interconnect configured to receive data from the data source and to output data to the data sink. The interconnect has a memory having memory cells. Each memory cell has a width which matches a bus segment width. The memory is configured to receive a first write output with a width corresponding to the bus segment width. The write output comprises first data to be written to a first memory cell of the memory, the first data being from the data source.

Abstract: A network interface device comprises a streaming data processing path comprising a first data processing engine and hubs. A first scheduler associated with a first hub controls an output of data by the first hub to the first data processing engine and a second scheduler associated with a second hub controls an output of data by the second hub. The first hub is arranged upstream of the first data processing engine on the data processing path and is configured to receive data from a first upstream data path entity and from a first data processing entity implemented in programmable circuitry via a data ingress interface of the first hub. The first data processing engine is configured to receive data from the first hub, process the received data and output the processed data to the second hub arranged downstream of first data processing engine.

Abstract: A network interface device comprises a first area of trust comprising a first part of the network interface device, the first part comprising one or more first kernels. A second area of trust comprising a second part of the network interface device different to said first part is provided, the second part comprising one or more second kernels. A communication link is provided between the first area of trust and the second area of trust. At least one of the first and second areas of trust is provided with isolation circuitry configured to control which data which is passed to the other of the first and second areas via the communication link.

Abstract: A network interface device comprises an input configured to receive a storage response comprising a plurality of packets of data, one or more packets comprising a header part and data to be stored, the header part comprising a transport protocol header and a data storage application header. A first packet processor is configured to receive two or more of said plurality of packets and perform transport protocol processing of the received packets to provide transport protocol processed packets A second packet processor configured to receive the transport protocol processed packets from the first packet processor, to write the data to be stored of the received packets to memory and to provide the data storage application header and a pointer to a location in the memory to which the data has been written.

Abstract: A data processing system arranged for receiving over a network, according to a data transfer protocol, data directed to any of a plurality of destination identities, the data processing system comprising: data storage for storing data received over the network; and a first processing arrangement for performing processing in accordance with the data transfer protocol on received data in the data storage, for making the received data available to respective destination identities; and a response former arranged for: receiving a message requesting a response indicating the availability of received data to each of a group of destination identities; and forming such a response; wherein the system is arranged to, in dependence on receiving the said message.

Abstract: A network interface device having a hardware module comprising a plurality of processing units. Each of the plurality of processing units is associated with its own at least one predefined operation. At a compile time, the hardware module is configured by arranging at least some of the plurality of processing units to perform their respective at least one operation with respect to a data packet in a certain order so as to perform a function with respect to that data packet. A compiler is provide to assign different processing stages to each processing unit. A controller is provided to switch between different processing circuitry on the fly so that one processing circuitry may be used whilst another is being compiled.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving at a compiler a bit file description and a program, said bit file description comprising a description of routing of a part of a circuit. The method comprises compiling the program using said bit file description to output a bit file for said program.

Abstract: A network interface device having a hardware module comprising a plurality of processing units. Each of the plurality of processing units is associated with its own at least one predefined operation. At a compile time, the hardware module is configured by arranging at least some of the plurality of processing units to perform their respective at least one operation with respect to a data packet in a certain order so as to perform a function with respect to that data packet. A compiler is provide to assign different processing stages to each processing unit. A controller is provided to switch between different processing circuitry on the fly so that one processing circuitry may be used whilst another is being compiled.

Abstract: A logic device and method are provided for intercepting a data flow from a network source to a network destination. A data store holds a set of compliance rules and corresponding actions. A packet inspector is configured to inspect the intercepted data flow and identify from the data store a compliance rule associated with the inspected data flow. A packet filter is configured to, when the data flow is identified as being associated with a compliance rule, carry out an action with respect to the data flow corresponding to the compliance rule.

Abstract: Roughly described, a network interface device receiving data packets from a computing device for transmission onto a network, the data packets having a certain characteristic, transmits the packet only if the sending queue has authority to send packets having that characteristic. The data packet characteristics can include transport protocol number, source and destination port numbers, source and destination IP addresses, for example. Authorizations can be programmed into the NIC by a kernel routine upon establishment of the transmit queue, based on the privilege level of the process for which the queue is being established. In this way, a user process can use an untrusted user-level protocol stack to initiate data transmission onto the network, while the NIC protects the remainder of the system or network from certain kinds of compromise.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving at a compiler a bit file description and a program, said bit file description comprising a description of routing of a part of a circuit. The method comprises compiling the program using said bit file description to output a bit file for said program.

Abstract: A data processing system arranged for receiving over a network, according to a data transfer protocol, data directed to any of a plurality of destination identities, the data processing system comprising: data storage for storing data received over the network; and a first processing arrangement for performing processing in accordance with the data transfer protocol on received data in the data storage, for making the received data available to respective destination identities; and a response former arranged for: receiving a message requesting a response indicating the availability of received data to each of a group of destination identities; and forming such a response; wherein the system is arranged to, in dependence on receiving the said message.

Abstract: A network interface device having a hardware module comprising a plurality of processing units. Each of the plurality of processing units is associated with its own at least one predefined operation. At a compile time, the hardware module is configured by arranging at least some of the plurality of processing units to perform their respective at least one operation with respect to a data packet in a certain order so as to perform a function with respect to that data packet. A compiler is provide to assign different processing stages to each processing unit. A controller is provided to switch between different processing circuitry on the fly so that one processing circuitry may be used whilst another is being compiled.

Abstract: A data processing system arranged for receiving over a network, according to a data transfer protocol, data directed to any of a plurality of destination identities, the data processing system comprising: data storage for storing data received over the network; and a first processing arrangement for performing processing in accordance with the data transfer protocol on received data in the data storage, for making the received data available to respective destination identities; and a response former arranged for: receiving a message requesting a response indicating the availability of received data to each of a group of destination identities; and forming such a response; wherein the system is arranged to, in dependence on receiving the said message.