Abstract: Systems and methods for network interfacing may include a communication data center with a first tier, a second tier and a third tier. The first tier may include a first server with a first single integrated convergent network controller chip. The second server may include a second server with a second single integrated convergent network controller chip. The third tier may include a third server with a third single integrated convergent network controller chip. The second server may be coupled to the first server via a single fabric with a single connector. The third server may be coupled to the second server via the single fabric with the single connector. The respective first, second and third server, each processes a plurality of different traffic types concurrently via the respective first, second and third single integrated convergent network chip over the single fabric that is coupled to the single connector.

Abstract: A network adapter and corresponding method for its use are disclosed. The network adapter has an operational mode that allows a host CPU to offload transmission of a block of data to the adapter. The adapter segments the block into fragments, and builds a data packet for each fragment. The adapter transmits these packets with an adapter-implemented flow control. This flow control uses: a context engine that tracks flow control variables for a “context” established for the block; a context memory for storing the variables; and a receive filter that updates flow control information for the block based on ACK packets received from the remote endpoint receiving the data packets. Because the network adapter implements flow control for data blocks that the network adapter segments, intermediate ACK packets corresponding to that block can be intercepted by the adapter, before they pass to the host, conserving host resources.

Abstract: A system for processing packets is disclosed and may including a network interface card (NIC). The NIC may include a TCP enabled Ethernet controller (TEEC). The TEEC may include an internal elastic buffer. The TEEC may process received incoming TCP packets once and may temporarily buffer at least a portion of the incoming TCP packets in the internal elastic buffer. The processing may occur without reassembly or retransmission. The internal elastic buffer may include a receive internal elastic buffer and a transmit internal elastic buffer. The receive internal elastic buffer may temporarily buffer at least a portion of the received incoming TCP packets. The transmit internal elastic buffer may temporarily buffer at least a portion of TCP packets to be transmitted. The TEEC may place at least a portion of the received incoming TCP packets data into at least a portion of a host memory.

Abstract: Systems and methods that interface with a management system are provided. In one embodiment, a system and a method may provide a command protocol and format for communication between a network interface card (NIC) and a management device such as, for example, an intelligent management device (IMD). An interface may be adapted to allow the management device to merge its traffic with that of the NIC to provide a fully integrated management solution. The fully integrated management solution may be implemented, for example, without additional network connections.

Abstract: A method for processing network data is disclosed and may include receiving data via a single bus interface to which each of a plurality of Ethernet controllers are coupled, where the Ethernet controllers are integrated within a single chip. A particular one of the integrated Ethernet controllers may be identified based on information within the received data. The particular one of the integrated Ethernet controllers may be granted access to a shared resource within the single chip. The access to the shared resource may be granted using at least one semaphore register within the shared resource. The particular one of the integrated Ethernet controllers may be granted access to the single bus interface. The information may include a bus identifier, a bus device identifier and/or a bus function identifier. The shared resource may include a nonvolatile memory (NVM).

Abstract: A method and system for providing pooling or dynamic allocation of connection context data may comprise receiving data associated with a first network protocol and receiving data associated with a second network protocol. A single shared context memory may be utilized for processing at least some of the data associated with the first network protocol and at least some of the data associated with the second network protocol. At least a portion of the received data associated with the first and/or second network protocols may be offloaded for processing in the single context memory. The received data associated with a first and/or second network protocols may comprise traffic data and control data. Portions of the shared single context memory may be dynamically allocated and/or reallocated for processing received data associated with the first and second network protocols.

Abstract: A system for processing packets is disclosed and may including a network interface card (NIC). The NIC may include a TCP enabled Ethernet controller (TEEC). The TEEC may include an internal elastic buffer. The TEEC may process received incoming TCP packets once and may temporarily buffer at least a portion of the incoming TCP packets in the internal elastic buffer. The processing may occur without reassembly or retransmission. The internal elastic buffer may include a receive internal elastic buffer and a transmit internal elastic buffer. The receive internal elastic buffer may temporarily buffer at least a portion of the received incoming TCP packets. The transmit internal elastic buffer may temporarily buffer at least a portion of TCP packets to be transmitted. The TEEC may place at least a portion of the received incoming TCP packets data into at least a portion of a host memory.

Abstract: A network interface device includes a bus interface that communicates over a bus with a host processor and memory, and a network interface, including at least first and second physical ports, which are coupled to send and receive data packets carrying data over a packet network. A protocol processor includes a single transmit processing pipeline and a single receive processing pipeline, which are coupled between the bus interface and the network interface so as to convey the data between both of the first and second physical ports of the network interface and the memory via the bus interface while performing protocol offload processing on the data packets.

Abstract: Systems and methods that interface with a management system are provided. In one embodiment, a system and a method may provide a command protocol and format for communication between a network interface card (NIC) and a management device such as, for example, an intelligent management device (IMD). An interface may be adapted to allow the management device to merge its traffic with that of the NIC to provide a fully integrated management solution. The fully integrated management solution may be implemented, for example, without additional network connections.

Abstract: A network interface device may include an offload engine that receives control of state information while a particular connection is offloaded. Control of the state information for the particular connection may be split between the network interface device and a host. The at least one connection variables may be updated and provided to the host.

Abstract: A network controller in a communication device may be operable to provide pass-through communication of local host-management traffic between a local host and a management controller within the communication device, wherein the local host may be operable to utilize its network processing resources during communication of the local host-management traffic. The network controller may use packet filtering to provide the pass-through communication, wherein the network controller may utilize a plurality filtering rules during filtering of packets received in the network controller. The filtering rules may specify packet processing and/or forwarding actions by said network controller based on one or more specified conditions. The specified conditions may based on one or more match criteria; wherein the match criteria comprising source address, destination address, and/or traffic type data in the received packets.

Abstract: A system for arbitrating access to a shared resource is disclosed and may include a bus interface, a first network controller for handling a first host function associated with a first host process, a second network controller for handling a second host function associated with a second host process, and an arbitrator for granting access to the shared resource for one of the first host process and the second host process. The arbitrator may facilitate a transfer of information to and from the bus interface and the shared resource. The first network controller and the second network controller may be integrated within a single chip. The shared resource may be a nonvolatile memory, flash memory interface, an EEPROM interface, and/or a Serial Programming Interface (SPI).

Abstract: A network controller may split, via a pass-through driver, processing of transmit and/or receive network traffic handled by the network controller. Physical layer (PHY) processing and/or Medium Access Control (MAC) processing of the management traffic may be performed internally via the network controller. The pass-through driver may route at least a portion of management traffic carried via the transmit and/or receive network traffic externally to said network controller for processing. In this regard, the pass-through driver may enable routing of data and/or messages to enable performing the external processing of management traffic. An application processor may be used to perform the external processing of management traffic.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include receiving at least one message via a single bus interface to which each integrated Ethernet controller may be coupled. A bus identifier, bus device identifier and bus function identifier corresponding to the received message and which identifies a particular one of the integrated Ethernet controllers may be determined. The received message may be transferred to the particular integrated Ethernet controller based on the determined bus identifier, bus device identifier and bus function identifier, which were previously generated. The method may further include associating a bus function with the particular integrated Ethernet controller and mapping the associated bus function identifier to the bus function. A bus function process may be associated with the particular integrated Ethernet controller. The bus identifier may be associated with the single bus interface and the device identifier may be associated with the plurality of integrated Ethernet controllers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for network interfacing may include a communication data center with a first tier, a second tier and a third tier. The first tier may include a first server with a first single integrated convergent network controller chip. The second server may include a second server with a second single integrated convergent network controller chip. The third tier may include a third server with a third single integrated convergent network controller chip. The second server may be coupled to the first server via a single fabric with a single connector. The third server may be coupled to the second server via the single fabric with the single connector. The respective first, second and third server, each processes a plurality of different traffic types concurrently via the respective first, second and third single integrated convergent network chip over the single fabric that is coupled to the single connector.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for load balancing to a plurality of ports is presented herein. A miniport driver is adapted to multiplex and demultiplex traffic workload across the ports. The miniport driver classifies outgoing packet streams and distributes each packet stream to a communication ring, such as an Ethernet ring, for example, associated with at least one of the ports. Additionally, the miniport driver can be configured to configure a operation of the plurality of ports in one of several modes, including a mode wherein the plurality of ports are operable and act as a single logical interface for the operation.

Abstract: A network adapter and corresponding method for its use are disclosed. The network adapter has an operational mode that allows a host CPU to offload transmission of a block of data to the adapter. The adapter segments the block into fragments, and builds a data packet for each fragment. The adapter transmits these packets with an adapter-implemented flow control. This flow control uses: a context engine that tracks flow control variables for a “context” established for the block; a context memory for storing the variables; and a receive filter that updates flow control information for the block based on ACK packets received from the remote endpoint receiving the data packets. Because the network adapter implements flow control for data blocks that the network adapter segments, intermediate ACK packets corresponding to that block can be intercepted by the adapter, before they pass to the host, conserving host resources.

Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods relate to reducing the effect of video processing latency in devices that utilize PCI Express Active State Power Management (PCI-E ASPM). Power state transition delay may be reduced by initiating an early L1 exit based on a video processing stimulus. Aspects of the present invention may enable a higher level of performance and responsiveness while supporting the benefits of ASPM. Aspects of the present invention may be embodied in a video processing device that uses a video accelerator with a PCI-E interface.

Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods relate to improving PCI Express (PCI-E) L1 Active State Power Management (ASPM) exit latency by speculatively initiating early L1 exit based on a network stimulus. Aspects of the present invention may enable a higher level of performance and responsiveness while supporting the benefits of ASPM. Aspects of the present invention may minimize operational cost by reducing latency in processes that utilize a PCI-E interface. Aspects of the present invention may be embodied in a Network Interface Controller (NIC) or any other device with a PCI-E interface that supports ASPM.

Abstract: A network adapter and corresponding method for its use are disclosed. The network adapter has an operational mode that allows a host CPU to offload transmission of a block of data to the adapter. The adapter segments the block into fragments, and builds a data packet for each fragment. The adapter transmits these packets with an adapter-implemented flow control. This flow control uses: a context engine that tracks flow control variables for a “context” established for the block; a context memory for storing the variables; and a receive filter that updates flow control information for the block based on ACK packets received from the remote endpoint receiving the data packets. Because the network adapter implements flow control for data blocks that the network adapter segments, intermediate ACK packets corresponding to that block can be intercepted by the adapter, before they pass to the host, conserving host resources.