Abstract: A method, computer program product and computer system for virtualizing an SAS storage adapter, so as to allow logical partitions of a computer system to share a storage device. The method, computer program product and computer system includes assigning a logical storage adapter to an operating system of each of the logical partitions; creating a mapping from each of the logical partitions to a set of logical blocks in the storage device; and configuring the logical storage adapter using a hypervisor, so that a select partition can access a select set of logical blocks that the select partition is allowed to access.

Abstract: A method and apparatus migrates partition memory in a logically partitioned computer system by utilizing input/output (I/O) space located outside the logical memory blocks (LMBs) to be migrated. The transmit/receive (X/R) queues that are used by network storage adapters and any fixed memory items such as transmit/receive buffers are placed outside the logical memory blocks (LMBs) of the partition. Without the fixed memory items, these LMBs may be migrated without affecting the operation of the network storage adapters or the software in partition memory. The I/O space may be placed outside the partition in a specialized LMB that holds fixed memory items for one or more I/O adapters.

Abstract: A method, computer program product and computer system for allocating shared address translation tables for memory regions of multiple I/O adaptors, which includes allocating an address translation table to be shared between the memory regions, creating a hardware context for each memory region, and sharing the address translation table across multiple adaptors.

Abstract: Apparatus and storage media for auto-configuration of an internal network interface are disclosed. Embodiments may install an internal VLAN manager in a logically partitioned computer system along with network agents in each of the partitions in the logically partitioned system to facilitate configuring an internal communications network and the corresponding internal network interfaces in each participating partition. In particular, an administrator accesses internal VLAN manager, selects an internal VLAN ID, selects each of the participating partitions, and configures the communications network with global parameters and ranges. The internal VLAN manager then generates partition parameters and incorporates them into messages for each of the partitions selected to participate in the internal network.

Abstract: Methods and systems for auto-configuration of an internal network interface are disclosed. Embodiments may install an internal VLAN manager in a logically partitioned computer system along with network agents in each of the partitions in the logically partitioned system to facilitate configuring an internal communications network and the corresponding internal network interfaces in each participating partition. In particular, an administrator accesses internal VLAN manager, selects an internal VLAN ID, selects each of the participating partitions, and configures the communications network with global parameters and ranges. The internal VLAN manager then generates partition parameters and incorporates them into messages for each of the partitions selected to participate in the internal network.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a network adapter has a physical port that is multiplexed to multiple logical ports, which have default queues. The adapter also has other queues, which can be allocated to any logical port, and resources, which map tuples to queues. The tuples are derived from data in packets received via the physical port. The adapter determines which queue should receive a packet based on the received tuple and the resources. If the received tuple matches a resource, then the adapter stores the packet to the corresponding queue; otherwise, the adapter stores the packet to the default queue for the logical port specified by the packet. In response to receiving an allocation request from a requesting partition, if no resources are idle, a resource is selected for preemption that is already allocated to a selected partition. The selected resource is then allocated to the requesting partition.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a first method is provided for creating a media access control (MAC) address for a device. The first method includes the steps of (1) obtaining one or more identifiers; (2) obtaining a first MAC address; and (3) creating at least a second MAC address based on the one or more identifiers and the first MAC address. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a first method is provided for creating a media access control (MAC) address for a device. The first method includes the steps of (1) obtaining one or more identifiers; (2) obtaining a first MAC address; and (3) creating at least a second MAC address based on the one or more identifiers and the first MAC address. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a first method is provided for creating a media access control (MAC) address for a device. The first method includes the steps of (1) obtaining one or more identifiers; (2) obtaining a first MAC address; and (3) creating at least a second MAC address based on the one or more identifiers and the first MAC address. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamically acquiring MAC addresses in a virtualized Network environment. A server may be partitioned into a plurality of logical partition. Each logical partition may be associated with a logical adapter to provide network access to the partition. A MAC address may be dynamically allocated to a logical adapter from a predefined range of MAC addresses. Furthermore, the MAC addresses may be unique within a particular subnet, therefore the same MAC address may be assigned to adapters in different subnets.

Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamically acquiring MAC addresses in a virtualized Network environment. A server may be partitioned into a plurality of logical partition. Each logical partition may be associated with a logical adapter to provide network access to the partition. A MAC address may be dynamically allocated to a logical adapter from a predefined range of MAC addresses. Furthermore, the MAC addresses may be unique within a particular subnet, therefore the same MAC address may be assigned to adapters in different subnets.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for implementing N-way fast failover in a virtualized Ethernet adapter. Requests are posted to queue pairs (QPs) to send and receive Ethernet packets. Each QP stores a designated physical Ethernet port. At the time of a failover, the stored failed designated physical Ethernet port in a QP is changed to a new functional physical Ethernet port. An increased bandwidth is available prior to failover because all ports are used, eliminating the use of any backup, idle ports of prior fast failover arrangements.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a first method is provided for creating a media access control (MAC) address for a device. The first method includes the steps of (1) obtaining one or more identifiers; (2) obtaining a first MAC address; and (3) creating at least a second MAC address based on the one or more identifiers and the first MAC address. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: An I/O adapter sharing mechanism in a logically partitioned computer system allows sharing a network I/O adapter between logical partitions in an efficient manner. A first logical partition owns (or controls) the I/O adapter, and a second logical partition desires to use (or share) the I/O adapter. An I/O adapter device driver that includes a hardware interface is provided in the first logical partition. A virtual device driver is provided in the second logical partition that provides a set of functions that is at least partially defined by querying the I/O adapter device driver in the first logical partition. The I/O adapter sharing mechanism includes a transfer mechanism that allows data to be transferred directly from the virtual device driver in the second logical partition to the I/O adapter without passing through the I/O adapter device driver in the first logical partition.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a first method is provided for sharing a multiple queue Ethernet adapter. The first method includes the steps of receiving a frame or packet in the adapter and determining whether the frame or packet is for one or more of a plurality of partitions that share the adapter. If the frame or packet is for one or more of the plurality of partitions that share the adapter, the method further includes (1) storing the frame or packet in an adapter cache memory; (2) determining one or more of the plurality of partitions to which the frame or packet is to be sent; and (3) transferring the frame or packet from the adapter cache memory to a receive queue of each of the one or more partitions to which the frame or packet is to be sent. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems for auto-configuration of an internal network interface are disclosed. Embodiments may install an internal VLAN manager in a logically partitioned computer system along with network agents in each of the partitions in the logically partitioned system to facilitate configuring an internal communications network and the corresponding internal network interfaces in each participating partition. In particular, an administrator accesses internal VLAN manager, selects an internal VLAN ID, selects each of the participating partitions, and configures the communications network with global parameters and ranges. The internal VLAN manager then generates partition parameters and incorporates them into messages for each of the partitions selected to participate in the internal network.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for transmitting a stream of multimedia digital data over a distribution communications network. A multimedia stream server segments the multimedia digital data stream into data blocks on a first boundary and a second boundary. The first boundary is a set number of transport system data packets and the second boundary is a transport system data packet including a timestamp. A scheduler schedules the segmented data blocks for transmission. The multimedia stream server decodes the segmented data blocks to locate the timestamps and matches the transmission of the located timestamp data block with a time value indicated by the timestamp. The set number of transport system data packets can be determined at connection setup and is not a predetermined value for all sessions. At the receiver, batch processing of received multimedia data can be provided.

Abstract: A network interface card for attaching computers, work stations or the like to a Local Area Network (LAN) includes a device which indicates an address compare if selected bits in a first part of an address, in the address field of a received frame, matches bits stored in the network interface card and at least one bit of a code word stored at a particular address of an index RAM is set to a predetermined state. The particular address in the index RAM is identified by a second part of the address in the received frame. The range of address which can be recognized is further extended by a contents addressable memory (CAM) coupled to the device. The CAM makes a parallel compare between an input address and its contents and outputs a match signal if a match is found. A programmable control register is used to activate or deactivate the CAM or the device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for transmitting a stream of multimedia digital data over a distribution communications network. A multimedia stream server segments the multimedia digital data stream into data blocks on a first boundary and a second boundary. The first boundary is a set number of transport system data packets and the second boundary is a transport system data packet including a timestamp. A scheduler schedules the segmented data blocks for transmission. The multimedia stream server decodes the segmented data blocks to locate the timestamps and matches the transmission of the located timestamp data block with a time value indicated by the timestamp. The set number of transport system data packets can be determined at connection setup and is not a predetermined value for all sessions. At the receiver, batch processing of received multimedia data can be provided.

Abstract: A display attribute, such as normal/reverse video, automatically switches between two different, separately optimizable character fonts. One font is complementary to the other.