Abstract: Provided is a novel approach for connecting servers to peripherals, such as NICs, HBAs, and SAS/SATA controllers. Also provided are methods of arranging peripherals within one or more I/O directors, which are connected to the servers over an Ethernet network. Such arrangement allows sharing the same resource among multiple servers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for improving communication between processors in separate computer systems. Components and peripherals in individual computer systems communicate using input/output (I/O) buses such as PCI Express buses. The I/O buses are extended to allow interconnection between computer systems without having to introduce network infrastructure. A transfer controller supporting Direct Memory Access (DMA) is provided to allow even more efficient communication between computer systems.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for creating a secure zone having multiple servers connected to a resource virtualization switch through I/O bus interfaces, such as PCI Express or PCI-AS. Servers connected to the resource virtualization switch using I/O bus interfaces share access to one or more virtualized cryptographic accelerators associated with the resource virtualization switch. Applications on a server or system images running on hypervisor inside server can use cryptographic accelerators associated with the resource virtualization switch as though the resources were included in the server itself. Connections between multiple servers and the resource virtualization switch are secure non-broadcast connections. Data provided to a resource virtualization switch can be cryptographically processed using one or more shared and virtualized cryptographic accelerators.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for allowing quality of service (QoS) configuration for storage applications running on servers connected to a storage area network (SAN). Resources such as host bus adapters (HBAs) are offloaded from individual servers onto a resource virtualization switch. Servers are connected to the resource virtualization switch using an I/O bus connection. The resource virtualization switch provides storage applications running on connected servers with different quality of service levels. The resource virtualization switch can also apply traffic shaping policies associated with QoS.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for virtualizing resources including peripheral components and peripheral interfaces. Peripheral component such as hardware accelerators and peripheral interfaces such as port adapters are offloaded from individual servers onto a resource virtualization switch. Multiple servers are connected to the resource virtualization switch over an I/O bus fabric such as PCI Express or PCI-AS. The resource virtualization switch allows efficient access, sharing, management, and allocation of resources.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for verifying and validating operation of a design under test (DUT). Input data sequences having information used to check expected outputs are provided to a DUT. The input data sequences include checking headers and data. The checking headers and data are randomized using encryption to verify and validate operation of the DUT on a variety of bit sequences. Different keys are used to allow further scrambling.