Abstract: A network interface controller includes a media access controller and a host adapter. The host adapter includes a transmit route connected to receive an in-band packet from a host and further connected to transmit the in-band packet to the media access controller. The network interface controller also includes a sideband port controller connected to receive a sideband packet destined for a network from a sideband endpoint and further connected to transmit the sideband packet to the host adapter. The host adapter further includes a host buffer to store the in-band packet, a sideband buffer to store the sideband packet, and an arbiter connected to allow, at different times, the in-band packet to advance along the transmit route from the host buffer to the media access controller and the sideband packet to advance along the transmit route from the sideband buffer to the media access controller.

Abstract: A network interface controller includes a media access controller and a host adapter. The host adapter includes a transmit route connected to receive an in-band packet from a host and further connected to transmit the in-band packet to the media access controller. The network interface controller also includes a sideband port controller connected to receive a sideband packet destined for a network from a sideband endpoint and further connected to transmit the sideband packet to the host adapter. The host adapter further includes a host buffer to store the in-band packet, a sideband buffer to store the sideband packet, and an arbiter connected to allow, at different times, the in-band packet to advance along the transmit route from the host buffer to the media access controller and the sideband packet to advance along the transmit route from the sideband buffer to the media access controller.

Abstract: A network interface controller includes a media access controller and a host adapter. The host adapter includes a transmit route connected to receive an in-band packet from a host and further connected to transmit the in-band packet to the media access controller. The network interface controller also includes a sideband port controller connected to receive a sideband packet destined for a network from a sideband endpoint and further connected to transmit the sideband packet to the host adapter. The host adapter further includes a host buffer to store the in-band packet, a sideband buffer to store the sideband packet, and an arbiter connected to allow, at different times, the in-band packet to advance along the transmit route from the host buffer to the media access controller and the sideband packet to advance along the transmit route from the sideband buffer to the media access controller.

Abstract: A network interface controller for providing a connection for a device to a network. The network interface controller may include a sideband port controller. The sideband port controller may provide a sideband connection between the network and a sideband endpoint circuit that is operative to communicate information with the network via the sideband. The sideband port controller may include a transmit data route having an input for receiving packets from the sideband endpoint circuit and an output for passing packets received from the sideband endpoint to the network. A packet parser is connected to the transmit data route. The packet parser is operative to read data from packets received from the sideband endpoint and is further operative to analyze the data.

Abstract: A network interface controller (NC) that can provide a connection for a device to a network. The NC can include a sideband port controller. The sideband port controller can provide a sideband connection between the network and a sideband endpoint circuit that can communicate information with the network via the sideband. The sideband port controller can include a receive data route that has an input for receiving packets of data from the network and an output for passing the packets of data received from the network to the sideband endpoint circuit. The receive data route may include a buffer to receive the packets of data from the network and to pass the packets of data received from the network to the sideband endpoint.

Abstract: A network interface controller includes a media access controller connected to receive an in-band packet and further connected to receive a sideband packet. The network interface controller includes a host adapter that includes a receive route connected to receive the in-band packet and the sideband packet from the media access controller, and further connected to transmit the in-band packet to a host. The network interface controller includes a sideband port controller comprising a sideband receive buffer. The host adapter further includes a first receive buffer to store the in-band packet and to store the sideband packet. The host adapter further includes an arbiter connected to allow, at a time, the in-band packet to advance from the first receive buffer along the receive route towards the host and further connected to allow, at a different time, the sideband packet to advance to the sideband receive buffer of the sideband port controller.

Abstract: Embodied is a host network controller for a network processor. The host network controller is adapted to implement a finite state machine for an operation adhering to a standardized communication protocol, wherein the finite state machine has fewer possible states than those defined for the operation in accordance with the standardized communication protocol.

Abstract: A network interface controller can include a sideband port controller. The sideband port controller can provide a sideband connection between the network and a sideband endpoint circuit that can be operative to communicate with the network via a sideband. The sideband port controller can include an event notification unit operative to compile information into an event notification packet. The sideband port controller can further include a packet parser. In embodiments, the packet parser could be operative to analyzes a packet to provide an indication that the packet contains the event notification packet. In embodiments, the sideband port controller could be operative to forward the information in the event notification packet to the sideband endpoint circuit, responsive to that indication.

Abstract: Provided is a method for operating a host network controller for a network processor where the host network controller has at least one register. A restricted set of state data may be stored in at least one register. The restricted set of state data may be indicative of fewer possible states than those defined in accordance with a standardized communication protocol. The host network controller may implement a finite state machine based on the restricted set of state data stored in the at least one register such that the finite state machine may have fewer possible states than those defined in accordance with the standardized communication protocol.

Abstract: A network interface controller includes a media access controller and a host adapter. The host adapter includes a transmit route connected to receive an in-band packet from a host and further connected to transmit the in-band packet to the media access controller. The network interface controller also includes a sideband port controller connected to receive a sideband packet destined for a network from a sideband endpoint and further connected to transmit the sideband packet to the host adapter. The host adapter further includes a host buffer to store the in-band packet, a sideband buffer to store the sideband packet, and an arbiter connected to allow, at different times, the in-band packet to advance along the transmit route from the host buffer to the media access controller and the sideband packet to advance along the transmit route from the sideband buffer to the media access controller.

Abstract: A network interface controller includes a media access controller connected to receive an in-band packet and further connected to receive a sideband packet. The network interface controller includes a host adapter that includes a receive route connected to receive the in-band packet and the sideband packet from the media access controller, and further connected to transmit the in-band packet to a host. The network interface controller includes a sideband port controller comprising a sideband receive buffer. The host adapter further includes a first receive buffer to store the in-band packet and to store the sideband packet. The host adapter further includes an arbiter connected to allow, at a time, the in-band packet to advance from the first receive buffer along the receive route towards the host and further connected to allow, at a different time, the sideband packet to advance to the sideband receive buffer of the sideband port controller.

Abstract: A network interface controller includes a media access controller and a host adapter. The host adapter includes a transmit route connected to receive an in-band packet from a host and further connected to transmit the in-band packet to the media access controller. The network interface controller also includes a sideband port controller connected to receive a sideband packet destined for a network from a sideband endpoint and further connected to transmit the sideband packet to the host adapter. The host adapter further includes a host buffer to store the in-band packet, a sideband buffer to store the sideband packet, and an arbiter connected to allow, at different times, the in-band packet to advance along the transmit route from the host buffer to the media access controller and the sideband packet to advance along the transmit route from the sideband buffer to the media access controller.

Abstract: A packet parser has a set of marker elements each comprising a one bit latch and connected to store flag values from the results of the application of parser rules. Some marker elements are connected to provide the stored marker values as input to the parser rule logic to be taken into account in the processing of subsequent parser rules and some are connected to control external hardware. Some markers are reset at the end of each packet. A special toggle marker element toggles its value when its address is selected and other marker elements are connected to store, when its own address is selected, the value of the toggle element. Other markers toggle their own value when selected.

Abstract: A packet parser has a set of marker elements each comprising a one bit latch and connected to store flag values from the results of the application of parser rules. Some marker elements are connected to provide the stored marker values as input to the parser rule logic to be taken into account in the processing of subsequent parser rules and some are connected to control external hardware. Some markers are reset at the end of each packet. A special toggle marker element toggles its value when its address is selected and other marker elements are connected to store, when its own address is selected, the value of the toggle element. Other markers toggle their own value when selected.

Abstract: A network interface controller can include a sideband port controller. The sideband port controller can provide a sideband connection between the network and a sideband endpoint circuit that can be operative to communicate with the network via a sideband. The sideband port controller can include an event notification unit operative to compile information into an event notification packet. The sideband port controller can further include a packet parser. In embodiments, the packet parser could be operative to analyzes a packet to provide an indication that the packet contains the event notification packet. In embodiments, the sideband port controller could be operative to forward the information in the event notification packet to the sideband endpoint circuit, responsive to that indication.

Abstract: A network interface controller includes a media access controller and a host adapter. The host adapter includes a transmit route connected to receive an in-band packet from a host and further connected to transmit the in-band packet to the media access controller. The network interface controller also includes a sideband port controller connected to receive a sideband packet destined for a network from a sideband endpoint and further connected to transmit the sideband packet to the host adapter. The host adapter further includes a host buffer to store the in-band packet, a sideband buffer to store the sideband packet, and an arbiter connected to allow, at different times, the in-band packet to advance along the transmit route from the host buffer to the media access controller and the sideband packet to advance along the transmit route from the sideband buffer to the media access controller.

Abstract: A network interface controller includes a media access controller connected to receive an in-band packet and further connected to receive a sideband packet. The network interface controller includes a host adapter that includes a receive route connected to receive the in-band packet and the sideband packet from the media access controller, and further connected to transmit the in-band packet to a host. The network interface controller includes a sideband port controller comprising a sideband receive buffer. The host adapter further includes a first receive buffer to store the in-band packet and to store the sideband packet. The host adapter further includes an arbiter connected to allow, at a time, the in-band packet to advance from the first receive buffer along the receive route towards the host and further connected to allow, at a different time, the sideband packet to advance to the sideband receive buffer of the sideband port controller.

Abstract: A network interface controller includes a media access controller and a host adapter. The host adapter includes a transmit route connected to receive an in-band packet from a host and further connected to transmit the in-band packet to the media access controller. The network interface controller also includes a sideband port controller connected to receive a sideband packet destined for a network from a sideband endpoint and further connected to transmit the sideband packet to the host adapter. The host adapter further includes a host buffer to store the in-band packet, a sideband buffer to store the sideband packet, and an arbiter connected to allow, at different times, the in-band packet to advance along the transmit route from the host buffer to the media access controller and the sideband packet to advance along the transmit route from the sideband buffer to the media access controller.

Abstract: A packet parser has a set of marker elements each comprising a one bit latch and connected to store flag values from the results of the application of parser rules. Some marker elements are connected to provide the stored marker values as input to the parser rule logic to be taken into account in the processing of subsequent parser rules and some are connected to control external hardware. Some markers are reset at the end of each packet. A special toggle marker element toggles its value when its address is selected and other marker elements are connected to store, when its own address is selected, the value of the toggle element. Other markers toggle their own value when selected.

Abstract: A network interface controller includes a media access controller connected to receive an in-band packet and further connected to receive a sideband packet. The network interface controller includes a host adapter that includes a receive route connected to receive the in-band packet and the sideband packet from the media access controller, and further connected to transmit the in-band packet to a host. The network interface controller includes a sideband port controller comprising a sideband receive buffer. The host adapter further includes a first receive buffer to store the in-band packet and to store the sideband packet. The host adapter further includes an arbiter connected to allow, at a time, the in-band packet to advance from the first receive buffer along the receive route towards the host and further connected to allow, at a different time, the sideband packet to advance to the sideband receive buffer of the sideband port controller.