Abstract: Apparatus and method to facilitate networked compute node cluster routing are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a compute node for cluster compute may include one or more input ports to receive data packets from first selected ones of a cluster of compute nodes; one or more output ports to route data packets to second selected ones of the cluster of computer nodes; and one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors includes logic to determine a particular output port, of the one or more output ports, to which a data packet received at the one or more input ports is to be routed, and wherein the logic is to exclude output ports associated with links indicated in fault status information as having a fault status to be the particular output port to which the data packet is to be routed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method to facilitate networked compute node cluster routing are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a compute node for cluster compute may include one or more input ports to receive data packets from first selected ones of a cluster of compute nodes; one or more output ports to route data packets to second selected ones of the cluster of computer nodes; and one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors includes logic to determine a particular output port, of the one or more output ports, to which a data packet received at the one or more input ports is to be routed, and wherein the logic is to exclude output ports associated with links indicated in fault status information as having a fault status to be the particular output port to which the data packet is to be routed.

Abstract: An enhanced VPD structure includes a type field to indicate whether a particular property is a general property to be associated with an interface card or other computer system component, or a device- or function-specific property to be associated with one or more devices or functions. The enhanced VPD structure also includes fields for identifying the device(s) and/or function(s) to which a device- or function-specific property applies, along with the value of the property, a data type and length of the property, and a meaningful name of the property. The enhanced VPD structure may be accessed during system boot, during hot-swapping of an interface card or other component, or at other times.

Abstract: A system and method for persisting device operating parameters through different phases of the boot process of a computer system. A boot command is entered to boot from a remote (or local) source through a boot device (e.g., a network interface, a disk controller), and is accompanied by one or more operating parameters (e.g., speed, duplex, link-clock). The parameters are converted to properties of the boot device and saved. Subsequently, one or more communication connections are established using the boot device properties. Using an initial boot program, the system may establish a first connection to access and load a secondary boot program, and another connection to load an operating system kernel. The boot device properties are thus used to establish communication connections at different times in the boot process, while the system is controlled by different programs (e.g., open boot PROM, secondary boot program, operating system kernel).

Abstract: A system and method for persisting device operating parameters through different phases of the boot process of a computer system. A boot command is entered to boot from a remote (or local) source through a boot device (e.g., a network interface, a disk controller), and is accompanied by one or more operating parameters (e.g., speed, duplex, link-clock). The parameters are converted to properties of the boot device and saved. Subsequently, one or more communication connections are established using the boot device properties. Using an initial boot program, the system may establish a first connection to access and load a secondary boot program, and another connection to load an operating system kernel. The boot device properties are thus used to establish communication connections at different times in the boot process, while the system is controlled by different programs (e.g., open boot PROM, secondary boot program, operating system kernel).

Abstract: An enhanced VPD structure includes a type field to indicate whether a particular property is a general property to be associated with an interface card or other computer system component, or a device- or function-specific property to be associated with one or more devices or functions. The enhanced VPD structure also includes fields for identifying the device(s) and/or function(s) to which a device- or function-specific property applies, along with the value of the property, a data type and length of the property, and a meaningful name of the property. The enhanced VPD structure may be accessed during system boot, during hot-swapping of an interface card or other component, or at other times.