Abstract: A method and controller for implementing storage adapter performance optimization with chained hardware operations completion coalescence, and a design structure on which the subject controller circuit resides are provided. The controller includes a plurality of hardware engines, and a processor. A plurality of the command blocks are selectively arranged by firmware in a predefined chain including a plurality of simultaneous command blocks. All of the simultaneous command blocks are completed in any order by respective hardware engines, then the next command block in the predefined chain is started under hardware control without any hardware-firmware (HW-FW) interlocking with the simultaneous command block completion coalescence.

Abstract: A method and controller for implementing storage adapter performance optimization with chained hardware operations completion coalescence, and a design structure on which the subject controller circuit resides are provided. The controller includes a plurality of hardware engines, and a processor. A plurality of the command blocks are selectively arranged by firmware in a predefined chain including a plurality of simultaneous command blocks. All of the simultaneous command blocks are completed in any order by respective hardware engines, then the next command block in the predefined chain is started under hardware control without any hardware-firmware (HW-FW) interlocking with the simultaneous command block completion coalescence.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a method is provided for scheduling connections for a network processor. The method includes the steps of, in a cache, scheduling a plurality of connections to be serviced based on quality of service parameters stored in a control structure corresponding to each connection and during a scheduling opportunity (1) identifying one or more of the plurality of connections in the cache to be serviced; (2) selecting one of the connections identified to be serviced; (3) servicing the selected connection; (4) accessing one or more portions of the control structure in the cache; (5) calculating a next service time when the selected connection is to be serviced; and (6) determining whether to schedule the selected connection to be serviced in one of the cache and a calendar based on the next service time. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling commands and data associated therewith includes a data buffer and a command directory. The command directory receives and stores a command from at least one command source, and freely allocates an unused portion of the data buffer to the command. The data buffer stores the data associated with the command in the allocated portion of the data buffer. Based on status information also stored by the command directory with respect to each command, routing logic in the command directory, corresponding to each command sink, identifies which commands stored in the command buffer to route to the command sink, and routes the identified commands to the command sink. The routing logic also determines a priority of the identified commands and routes the identified commands in order of priority. The command directory also uses the status information to track the processing of commands.