Abstract: A Network Interface (NI) includes a host interface, which is configured to receive from a host processor of a node one or more cross-channel work requests that are derived from an operation to be executed by the node. The NI includes a plurality of work queues for carrying out transport channels to one or more peer nodes over a network. The NI further includes control circuitry, which is configured to accept the cross-channel work requests via the host interface, and to execute the cross-channel work requests using the work queues by controlling an advance of at least a given work queue according to an advancing condition, which depends on a completion status of one or more other work queues, so as to carry out the operation.

Abstract: A method for communication includes routing a first packet, which belongs to a given packet flow, over a first routing path through a communication network. A second packet, which follows the first packet in the given packet flow, is routed using a time-bounded Adaptive Routing (AR) mode, by evaluating a time gap between the first and second packets, routing the second packet over the first routing path if the time gap does not exceed a predefined threshold, and, if the time gap exceeds the predefined threshold, selecting a second routing path through the communication network that is potentially different from the first routing path, and routing the second packet over the second routing path.

Abstract: A method for controlling access by processes running on a host device to a communication network includes assigning to each of the processes a respective doorbell address on a network interface adapter that couples the host device to the network and allocating instances of a communication service on the network, to be provided via the adapter, to the processes. Upon receiving a request submitted by a given one of the processes to its respective doorbell address to access one of the allocated service instances, the adapter conveys the data over the network using the specified instance of the service, subject to verifying, based on the doorbell address to which the request was submitted, that the specified instance was allocated to the given process.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a plurality of switch ports, each switch port including one or more port buffers for buffering data that traverses the switch port. A switch fabric is coupled to transfer the data between the switch ports. A switch control unit is configured to reassign at least one port buffer of a given switch port to buffer a part of the data that does not enter or exit the apparatus via the given switch port, and to cause the switch fabric to forward the part of the data to a destination switch port via the at least one reassigned port buffer.

Abstract: An interface adapter for a packet network includes a first plurality of execution engines, coupled to a host interface so as to read from a memory work items corresponding to messages to be sent over the network, and to generate gather entries defining packets to be transmitted over the network responsive to the work items. A scheduling processor assigns the work items to the execution engines for generation of the gather entries. Switching circuitry couples the execution engines to a plurality of gather engines, which generate the packets responsive to the gather entries.

Abstract: A method for preventing deadlock in communication between a host software application and a network interface card (NIC), comprises writing a doorbell associated with at least one descriptor having a descriptor context to a buffer in the NIC, dropping at least one doorbell from the buffer if the buffer is full, thereby allowing a write of a new doorbell to the buffer, and recovering each dropped doorbell for further execution of descriptors associated with this doorbell. The descriptor execution is in order of posting by the application to the NIC. A system implementing the method comprises a doorbell drop mechanism and a doorbell recovery mechanism.

Abstract: A method for controlling access by processes running on a host device to a communication network includes assigning to each of the processes a respective doorbell address on a network interface adapter that couples the host device to the network and allocating instances of a communication service on the network, to be provided via the adapter, to the processes. Upon receiving a request submitted by a given one of the processes to its respective doorbell address to access one of the allocated service instances, the adapter conveys the data over the network using the specified instance of the service, subject to verifying, based on the doorbell address to which the request was submitted, that the specified instance was allocated to the given process.

Abstract: A method for controlling access by processes running on a host device to a communication network includes assigning to each of the processes a respective doorbell address on a network interface adapter that couples the host device to the network and allocating instances of a communication service on the network, to be provided via the adapter, to the processes. Upon receiving a request submitted by a given one of the processes to its respective doorbell address to access one of the allocated service instances, the adapter conveys the data over the network using the specified instance of the service, subject to verifying, based on the doorbell address to which the request was submitted, that the specified instance was allocated to the given process.

Abstract: A network interface device includes a fabric interface, adapted to exchange messages over a switch fabric with a plurality of host processors, the messages containing data, and a network interface, including one or more ports adapted to be coupled to a network external to the switch fabric. Message processing circuitry is coupled between the fabric interface and the network interface, so as to enable at least first and second host processors among the plurality of the host processors to use a single one of the ports substantially simultaneously so as to transmit and receive frames containing the data over the network.

Abstract: A network interface adapter includes an outgoing packet generator, adapted to generate an outgoing request packet for delivery to a remote responder responsive to a request submitted by a host processor and a network output port, coupled to transmit the outgoing request packet over a network to the remote responder. A network input port receives an incoming response packet from the remote responder, in response to the outgoing request packet sent thereto, as well as an incoming request packet sent by a remote requester. An incoming packet processor receives and processes both the incoming response packet and the incoming request packet, and causes the outgoing packet generator, responsive to the incoming request packet, to generate, in addition to the outgoing request packet, an outgoing response packet for transmission to the remote requester.

Abstract: A method for communication over a network includes receiving from a host processor a descriptor defining a message including message data to be sent over the network, and responsive to the descriptor, generating a sequence of packets each containing a respective portion of the message data. An indication is entered in a selected packet among the packets in the sequence, other than the final packet, requesting that a recipient of the packets acknowledge the selected packet. Following an interruption in the sequence of the packets subsequent to the selected packet, sending of the packets in the sequence resumes beginning after the selected packet.

Abstract: A method for preventing deadlock in communication between a host software application and a network interface card (NIC), comprises writing a doorbell associated with at least one descriptor having a descriptor context to a buffer in the NIC, dropping at least one doorbell from the buffer if the buffer is full, thereby allowing a write of a new doorbell to the buffer, and recovering each dropped doorbell for further execution of descriptors associated with this doorbell. The descriptor execution is in order of posting by the application to the NIC. A system implementing the method comprises a doorbell drop mechanism and a doorbell recovery mechanism.

Abstract: A network interface device includes a fabric interface, adapted to exchange messages over a switch fabric with a plurality of host processors, the messages containing data, and a network interface, including one or more ports adapted to be coupled to a network external to the switch fabric. Message processing circuitry is coupled between the fabric interface and the network interface, so as to enable at least first and second host processors among the plurality of the host processors to use a single one of the ports substantially simultaneously so as to transmit and receive frames containing the data over the network.

Abstract: A network interface adapter provides a host processor with two complementary modes of submitting descriptors to be executed by the adapter: a normal mode, in which the host writes descriptors to a system memory and rings an assigned doorbell to notify the adapter; and a priority mode, in which the host writes the descriptor itself to a doorbell address of the adapter. In the priority mode, the adapter is relieved of the need to read the descriptor from the memory, and can thus begin execution as soon as it has resources available to do so.

Abstract: A method for controlling access by processes running on a host device to a communication network includes assigning to each of the processes a respective doorbell address on a network interface adapter that couples the host device to the network and allocating instances of a communication service on the network, to be provided via the adapter, to the processes. Upon receiving a request submitted by a given one of the processes to its respective doorbell address to access one of the allocated service instances, the adapter conveys the data over the network using the specified instance of the service, subject to verifying, based on the doorbell address to which the request was submitted, that the specified instance was allocated to the given process.

Abstract: An interface adapter for a packet network includes a first plurality of execution engines, coupled to a host interface so as to read from a memory work items corresponding to messages to be sent over the network, and to generate gather entries defining packets to be transmitted over the network responsive to the work items. A scheduling processor assigns the work items to the execution engines for generation of the gather entries. Switching circuitry couples the execution engines to a plurality of gather engines, which generate the packets responsive to the gather entries.

Abstract: A network interface adapter includes an outgoing packet generator, adapted to generate an outgoing request packet for delivery to a remote responder responsive to a request submitted by a host processor and a network output port, coupled to transmit the outgoing request packet over a network to the remote responder. A network input port receives an incoming response packet from the remote responder, in response to the outgoing request packet sent thereto, as well as an incoming request packet sent by a remote requester. An incoming packet processor receives and processes both the incoming response packet and the incoming request packet, and causes the outgoing packet generator, responsive to the incoming request packet, to generate, in addition to the outgoing request packet, an outgoing response packet for transmission to the remote requester.

Abstract: A method for communication over a network includes receiving from a host processor a descriptor defining a message including message data to be sent over the network, and responsive to the descriptor, generating a sequence of packets each containing a respective portion of the message data. An indication is entered in a selected packet among the packets in the sequence, other than the final packet, requesting that a recipient of the packets acknowledge the selected packet. Following an interruption in the sequence of the packets subsequent to the selected packet, sending of the packets in the sequence resumes beginning after the selected packet.