Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for providing confirmed delivery of Ethernet packets. The type/length (T/L) field of the standard Ethernet protocol packet is used to provide sequence numbers for guaranteed delivery of Ethernet packets. Sequence numbers are assigned at a transmitting device and read by a receiving device to confirm delivery of the Ethernet packets. If a missing packet is detected by the receiving device, it requests retransmission of the missing packet. Because the T/L field has limited use in legacy Ethernet systems, this use of the T/L field for guaranteed delivery has little, if any, effect on legacy systems.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling network communication parameters (e.g., data transfer rate) employed by two or more network nodes communicating over a network communications link by using the Inter-Packet Gap (IPG) length to sending network communication parameter information (e.g., rate control information) between the nodes over the network communications link.

Abstract: The “dual stack” capability of a network supporting two or more address spaces is used to perform host discovery in the network address space of one network address format using the network address space of another network format (e.g., via a PING sweep in the network address space of the other network format). The host discovery can be performed using addressing in a smaller network address space (e.g., IPv4 network address format) to discover hosts in a larger network address space (e.g., IPv6 network address format), or vice versa.

Abstract: A method of configuring a port on a network device includes receiving a frame of information, determining that the frame includes maximum transmission unit (MTU) information, and configuring a prioritized receive queue on the port with an MTU size based on the MTU information. The MTU size is different than another MTU size of another prioritized receive queue on the port. A network interface includes a port, a de-multiplexer coupled to an output or the port, and prioritized receive queues that each have an MTTU size. A first prioritized receive queue has an MTU size different than a second prioritized receive queue.

Abstract: A method for identifying the TCP stack type of a transmitting node is disclosed in which a SYN packet is identified by the setting of the SYN bit in the packet. Following the identification of a set SYN bit in the SYN packet, the content of the data field includes a code to identify the TCP stack type associated with the node that transmitted the SYN packet.

Abstract: A method includes configuring a host system to instantiate a virtual machine using server configuration information from a virtual machine monitor (VMM) and configuring a switch network to provide the virtual machine with access to resources on the switch network using network configuration information from the VMM. A VMM includes a workload with a server configuration module that configures a host system to include a virtual machine, and a network configuration module that configures a switch network coupled to the host system, such that the virtual machine obtains access to resources on the switch network.

Abstract: A network switch includes a port coupled to a host, and a profile. The profile includes a key associated with a virtual machine on the host, and information for configuring the port for the virtual machine. The switch receives communication on another port with the key and configures the other port for the virtual machine. A method includes coupling a host with a virtual machine to a port of a network switch, receiving communications from the virtual machine on the port, and creating a profile with a key for identifying data associated with the virtual machine and with information for configuring the switch to route data associated with the virtual machine through the port, receiving communications with the key information at another port, and modifying the information to route data for the virtual machine through the other port.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for determining a path maximum transmission unit (MTU) of a communication path connecting two or more nodes of a network. A node initiates a connection with a remote node by repeatedly transmitting increasingly-larger path MTU discovery messages until the size of a path MTU discovery message exceeds the link MTU of a link within the communication path. This results in the generation and transmission of an MTU error message back to the initiating node. The edge router linked to the initiating node generates a MTU change message in response to receiving the MTU error message and multicasts the MTU change message to all local nodes to which it is linked. The MTU change message directs the receiving nodes to update their destination caches to reflect the path MTU discovered through the use of the increasing-size path MTU discovery messages and the resulting MTU error message.

Abstract: A network interface device includes a host port, two network ports, and a switch that can direct communications between the host port, and the two network ports. A data processing system includes an information handling system coupled to a first network, and second and third information handling systems. The information handling systems are coupled in series. Communications received by the network that are addressed to the first information handling system are sent to the first information handling system, but not to the second or third information handling system. A method includes directing a communication from an information handling system to a first port when the communication has a target address that is less than the address of the information handling system or to a second port when the communication has a target address that is greater than the address of the information handling system.

Abstract: The “dual stack” capability of a network supporting two or more address spaces is used to perform host discovery in the network address space of one network address format using the network address space of another network format (e.g., via a PING sweep in the network address space of the other network format). The host discovery can be performed using addressing in a smaller network address space (e.g., IPv4 network address format) to discover hosts in a larger network address space (e.g., IPv6 network address format), or vice versa.

Abstract: A method for determining the offload type for the processing of the protocol of a network connection is disclosed. An offload policy manager in a server node determines the offload type on the basis of a number of factors, including the application type of the network connection, the traffic priority of the network connection, and the port of the network connection. After the offload policy manager selects the offload type of the network connection, the offload policy manager identifies the offload type to the offload engine, which processes the protocol of the network connection according to the offload type selected by the offload policy manager. The offload policy manager is able to access a number of application-specific tables. The offload policy manager selects an offload type by cross-referencing on an application-specific table the traffic priority of the network connection against the port of the network connection.

Abstract: A system and method of enabling a transparent Ethernet switch are disclosed. According to an aspect, a network switch is disclosed. The network switch can include a plurality of physical ports configured to communicate data via a network. The network switch can further include a memory configured to store a first forwarding database, and a plurality of aggregate zone entries within the first forwarding database. The aggregate zone entries can also include a port identifier of first port of the plurality of physical ports to be used as a transparent port within a first aggregate zone.

Abstract: A method for identifying the TCP stack type of a transmitting node is disclosed in which a SYN packet is identified by the setting of the SYN bit in the packet. Following the identification of a set SYN bit in the SYN packet, the content of the data field includes a code to identify the TCP stack type associated with the node that transmitted the SYN packet.

Abstract: An information handling system including a receiver for inbound data destined for delivery to a network node, an encryption recognition engine operable to identify whether the inbound data received by the receiver is encrypted and an encryption policy application engine operable to apply encryption policy to the inbound data on the basis of encryption properties identified by the encryption recognition engine in the inbound data. The system may further include an encryption engine operable to selectively encrypt the inbound data on the basis of the encryption policy as applied by the encryption policy application engine and a packet delivery engine operable to deliver the inbound data to its destination.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for determining a path maximum transmission unit (MTU) of a communication path connecting two or more nodes of a network. A node initiates a connection with a remote node by repeatedly transmitting increasingly-larger path MTU discovery messages until the size of a path MTU discovery message exceeds the link MTU of a link within the communication path. This results in the generation and transmission of an MTU error message back to the initiating node. The edge router linked to the initiating node generates a MTU change message in response to receiving the MTU error message and multicasts the MTU change message to all local nodes to which it is linked. The MTU change message directs the receiving nodes to update their destination caches to reflect the path MTU discovered through the use of the increasing-size path MTU discovery messages and the resulting MTU error message.

Abstract: A network interface device includes a host port, two network ports, and a switch that can direct communications between the host port, and the two network ports. A data processing system includes an information handling system coupled to a first network, and second and third information handling systems. The information handling systems are coupled in series. Communications received by the network that are addressed to the first information handling system are sent to the first information handling system, but not to the second or third information handling system. A method includes directing a communication from an information handling system to a first port when the communication has a target address that is less than the address of the information handling system or to a second port when the communication has a target address that is greater than the address of the information handling system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling network communication parameters (e.g., data transfer rate) employed by two or more network nodes communicating over a network communications link by using the Inter-Packet Gap (IPG) length to sending network communication parameter information (e.g., rate control information) between the nodes over the network communications link.

Abstract: Network communications in physical layer frame-based networks may be authenticated based on inter-packet gap (IPG) characteristics such as inter-packet gap length, inter-packet gap length pattern, information contained in the inter-packet gap, etc.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for providing confirmed delivery of Ethernet packets. The type/length (T/L) field of the standard Ethernet protocol packet is used to provide sequence numbers for guaranteed delivery of Ethernet packets. Sequence numbers are assigned at a transmitting device and read by a receiving device to confirm delivery of the Ethernet packets. If a missing packet is detected by the receiving device, it requests retransmission of the missing packet. Because the T/L field has limited use in legacy Ethernet systems, this use of the T/L field for guaranteed delivery has little, if any, effect on legacy systems.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for loading software in an information handling system (IHS). The method includes registering a kernel entity with an interface to receive a first notification when a socket library utilized for a communication protocol is requested and initializing software after receiving the first notification.