Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods for virtualizing interrupt modes on behalf of interrupt-generating devices, including I/O-device controllers, so that newer interrupt-generating devices that lack older interrupt modes can be used in systems that continue to rely on older interrupt modes. In one embodiment of the present invention, a PCIe switch or PCIe-based host bridge is modified, or a new component introduced, to provide an interrupt-mode virtualizing function, or virtual interrupt-mode interface, that provides a virtual interrupt mode on behalf of interrupt-generating devices, such as I/O-device controllers, to operating systems, BIOS layers, and other components that communicate with the I/O-device controllers.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer system, comprises at least one host node, at least one input/output node coupled to the host node, at least one multi-function device coupled to the input/output node via a switch, and a middle manager processor comprising logic to block an enumeration process in a host node for the multi-function devices behind the switch hierarchy, initiate an enumeration process for the multi-function devices in a manager processor separate from the host node, store a routing table for the switch hierarchy in a memory module coupled to the manager processor, and allocate, in the manager processor, endpoint device resources to the host node.

Abstract: A blade server system and method for virtually hot plugging and virtually hot removing functions in a shared I/O environment. A management node physically hot inserts and hot removes an I/O node in the server system without a compute node being aware of the hot insert and hot removal. The management node and the compute node create and remove virtual links between the compute node and the virtual functions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for host enumeration process. One embodiment of the method provides a bit to indicate to the host whether enumeration process should start or continue. The bit may be set when the shared resource process has been successfully completed, or the bit may be set if too much time has elapsed since the shared resource process has started, or the bit may be set if too much time has elapsed before the shared resource process is started, or the bit may be set if the shared resource process has not been performed successfully, or the bit may be set if the port is open and it is unnecessary to perform the shared resource process.

Abstract: A method includes providing a bridge device (105) connected to a host computing device (101-1, 101-2) and a peripheral device (103-1, 103-2, 103-N, 403-1, 403-2, 405-1, 405-2, 405-3), the bridge device (105) being configured to communicatively couple the host device (101-1, 101-2) to the peripheral device (103-1, 103-2, 103-N, 403-1, 403-2, 405-1, 405-2, 405-3); and preventing execution of a hardware enumeration process (313) in the host device (101-1, 101-2) until completion of a resource allocation process (303) in the bridge device (105).

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems for converting resets in a shared I/O system. One embodiment includes a method that propagates a first type of reset from a host computer to a multi-function device that shares I/O operations with other hosts. The first type of reset is converted to a second type of reset to prevent the host from resetting functions bound to the other hosts at the multi-function device.

Abstract: A system for transforming a single root input/output virtualization (SR-IOV) function to appear as a legacy function, and a corresponding method includes a switch platform coupled between a legacy host and a SR-IOV-enabled device. The switch platform includes a processor programmed to discern configuration cycles by type and to process the configuration cycles, and one or more local registers that store data related to the configuration cycles.

Abstract: A blade server system and method for virtually hot plugging and virtually hot removing functions in a shared I/O environment. A management node physically hot inserts and hot removes an I/O node in the server system without a compute node being aware of the hot insert and hot removal. The management node and the compute node create and remove virtual links between the compute node and the virtual functions.

Abstract: A network node within a network includes a first receive buffer, first buffer management, a second receive buffer and second buffer management. The first buffer management performs link level credit based flow control for network packets that the first buffer management places in the first receive buffer. The second buffer management performs end-to-end credit based flow control for network packets that the second buffer management receives from the first receive buffer and processes before placing data in the second receive buffer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer system, comprises at least one host node, at least one input/output node coupled to the host node, at least one multi-function device coupled to the input/output node via a switch, and a middle manager processor comprising logic to block an enumeration process in a host node for the multi-function devices behind the switch hierarchy, initiate an enumeration process for the multi-function devices in a manager processor separate from the host node, store a routing table for the switch hierarchy in a memory module coupled to the manager processor, and allocate, in the manager processor, endpoint device resources to the host node.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods for virtualizing interrupt modes on behalf of interrupt-generating devices, including I/O-device controllers, so that newer interrupt-generating devices that lack older interrupt modes can be used in systems that continue to rely on older interrupt modes. In one embodiment of the present invention, a PCIe switch or PCIe-based host bridge is modified, or a new component introduced, to provide an interrupt-mode virtualizing function, or virtual interrupt-mode interface, that provides a virtual interrupt mode on behalf of interrupt-generating devices, such as I/O-device controllers, to operating systems, BIOS layers, and other components that communicate with the I/O-device controllers.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems for converting resets in a shared I/O system. One embodiment includes a method that propagates a first type of reset from a host computer to a multi-function device that shares I/O operations with other hosts. The first type of reset is converted to a second type of reset to prevent the host from resetting functions bound to the other hosts at the multi-function device.

Abstract: A system is provided comprising a fabric coupling together a plurality of computing devices, wherein the fabric transfers a stream of packets between the computing devices. Each computing device comprises a Quality of Service (“QOS”) filter that monitors incoming packets to filter out packets of a maintenance type and permit transfer of packets of a transaction type.

Abstract: A system for transforming a single root input/output virtualization (SR-IOV) function to appear as a legacy function, and a corresponding method includes a switch platform coupled between a legacy host and a SR-IOV-enabled device. The switch platform includes a processor programmed to discern configuration cycles by type and to process the configuration cycles, and one or more local registers that store data related to the configuration cycles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for host enumeration process. One embodiment of the method provides a bit to indicate to the host whether enumeration process should start or continue. The bit may be set when the shared resource process has been successfully completed, or the bit may be set if too much time has elapsed since the shared resource process has started, or the bit may be set if too much time has elapsed before the shared resource process is started, or the bit may be set if the shared resource process has not been performed successfully, or the bit may be set if the port is open and it is unnecessary to perform the shared resource process.

Abstract: A method includes providing a bridge device (105) connected to a host computing device (101-1, 101-2) and a peripheral device (103-1, 103-2, 103-N, 403-1, 403-2, 405-1, 405-2, 405-3), the bridge device (105) being configured to communicatively couple the host device (101-1, 101-2) to the peripheral device (103-1, 103-2, 103-N, 403-1, 403-2, 405-1, 405-2, 405-3); and preventing execution of a hardware enumeration process (313) in the host device (101-1, 101-2) until completion of a resource allocation process (303) in the bridge device (105).

Abstract: A middle manager and methods are provided to enable a plurality of host devices to share one or more input/output devices. The middle manager initializes each shared input/output device and binds one or more functions of each input/output device to a specific host node in the system, such that hosts may only access functions to which they are bound. The middle manager may also utilize a configuration register map to translate values from the actual configuration register into a unique modified value for each of the plurality of host devices such that each host device may access and use the shared input/output device regardless of the firmware or operating system operating thereon.

Abstract: A middle manager and methods are provided to enable a plurality of host devices to share one or more input/output devices. The middle manager initializes each shared input/output device and binds one or more functions of each input/output device to a specific host node in the system, such that hosts may only access functions to which they are bound. The middle manager may also utilize a configuration register map to translate values from the actual configuration register into a unique modified value for each of the plurality of host devices such that each host device may access and use the shared input/output device regardless of the firmware or operating system operating thereon.

Abstract: A system is provided comprising a fabric coupling together a plurality of computing devices, wherein the fabric transfers a stream of packets between the computing devices. Each computing device comprises a Quality of Service (“QOS”) filter that monitors incoming packets to filter out packets of a maintenance type and permit transfer of packets of a transaction type.

Abstract: A network node within a network includes a first receive buffer, first buffer management, a second receive buffer and second buffer management. The first buffer management performs link level credit based flow control for network packets that the first buffer management places in the first receive buffer. The second buffer management performs end-to-end credit based flow control for network packets that the second buffer management receives from the first receive buffer and processes before placing data in the second receive buffer.