Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for highly accurate synchronization of machine instances in a distributed, hosted computing environment to a reference timekeeper. In addition to a general communication network accessible to machine instances, the distributed environment includes a second network dedicated to carrying time information, such as a pulse-per-second (PPS) signal to isolated timing hardware within host computing devices. The isolated timing hardware can use the PPS signal, along with a reference time, to set a hardware clock. The isolated timing hardware can further provide an interface to machine instances that enables the instances to read the time of the hardware clock. This configuration enables many instances can share access to a single reference timekeeper, thus synchronizing those instances to a much higher accuracy than in traditional network-based time protocols.

Abstract: A cage assembly may define a part of a computing appliance. The assembly can include a cage formed by walls and defining a continuous interior volume bounded by a top face, a bottom face, a right face, a left face, a front face, and a rear face. A first edge connector may be within a leftward portion of the interior volume. A second edge connector may be within a rightward portion of the interior volume and positioned laterally from the first edge connector. The arrangement may permit engagement with multiple individual-width plugs (e.g., each bearing an individual paddle card) or a single plug (e.g., bearing multiple paddle cards spaced laterally from one another and aligned for engagement with the first and second edge connectors within the cage).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for applying network policy to communications originating at operating system virtual interfaces. In an example embodiment, a network device is networked with a switch. The network device may include a first operating system interface, a virtualization adapter, and an input output port. In an example embodiment, the virtualization adapter receives a first frame from the first operating system interface. The virtualization adapter may tag the first frame to indicate an association between the first frame and the first operating system interface. The first frame may then be transmitted with a second frame being associated with a second operating system interface, to the switch via the input output port. In an example embodiment, the switch is configured to receive the frame, examine a tag and then to enforce a network policy upon the first frame, based on the tag.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, applying network policy at a network device. In an example embodiment fiber channel hard zoning information may be received that indicates whether a fiber channel frame is permitted to be communicated between two fiber channel ports. Some example embodiments include identifying a media access control addresses associated with the fiber channel ports. An example embodiment may include generating one or more access control entries based on the fiber channel identifications of the fiber channel ports and the zoning information. The access control entries may be distributes to an Ethernet port to be inserted into an existing access control list and used to enforce a zoning policy upon fiber channel over Ethernet frames.

Abstract: Methods and systems for synchronizing network configuration state tables between an operating system kernel and an attached ASIC switch device are disclosed. An instruction to update a target network configuration state table in either an operating system kernel or an attached ASIC switch device is received. Data from the target network configuration state table and data from a corresponding network configuration state table are retrieved. Values of data in the two tables are compared and an instruction is sent to update the target network configuration state table with one or more values from the corresponding network configuration state table.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus may include a first interface configured to be communicatively coupled, via a network, to a second interface and a fiber channel services module. The first interface may be configured to receive a fiber channel service from the fiber channel services module, establish communication with the second interface, and communicate a fiber-channel-over-Ethernet (FCoE) frame to the second interface, via a forwarder that forwards the FCoE frame without employing a fiber channel switching element. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for synchronizing network configuration state tables between an operating system kernel and an attached ASIC switch device are disclosed. An instruction to update a target network configuration state table in either an operating system kernel or an attached ASIC switch device is received. Data from the target network configuration state table and data from a corresponding network configuration state table are retrieved. Values of data in the two tables are compared and an instruction is sent to update the target network configuration state table with one or more values from the corresponding network configuration state table.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, applying network policy at a network device. In an example embodiment fibre channel hard zoning information may be received that indicates whether a fibre channel frame is permitted to be communicated between two fibre channel ports. Some example embodiments include identifying a media access control addresses associated with the fibre channel ports. An example embodiment may include generating one or more access control entries based on the fibre channel identifications of the fibre channel ports and the zoning information. The access control entries may be distributes to an Ethernet port to be inserted into an existing access control list and used to enforce a zoning policy upon fibre channel over Ethernet frames.

Abstract: A method and system to manage network traffic congestion in networks with link layer flow control is provided. The system comprises a physical queue monitor configured to monitor a state of a physical queue at a network device, a link layer flow control activator configured to activate link layer flow control based on the state of the physical queue, a proxy queue control module, a proxy queue monitor to monitor the state of the proxy queue, and a transport layer flow control activator. The proxy queue control module may be configured to update a state of a proxy queue based on the state of the physical queue. The proxy queue monitor may be configured to monitor the state of the proxy queue. The transport layer flow control activator may be configured to activate transport layer flow control based on the state of the proxy queue.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, applying network policy at a network device. In an example embodiment fiber channel hard zoning information may be received that indicates whether a fiber channel frame is permitted to be communicated between two fiber channel ports. Some example embodiments include identifying a media access control address associated with the fiber channel ports. An example embodiment may include generating one or more access control entries based on the fiber channel identifications of the fiber channel ports and the zoning information. The access control entries may be distributed to an Ethernet port to be inserted into an existing access control list and used to enforce a zoning policy upon fiber channel over Ethernet frames.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus may include a first interface configured to be communicatively coupled, via a network, to a second interface and a fibre channel services module. The first interface may be configured to receive a fibre channel service from the fibre channel services module, establish communication with the second interface, and communicate a fibre-channel-over-Ethernet (FCoE) frame to the second interface, via a forwarder that forwards the FCoE frame without employing a fibre channel switching element. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method and system to manage network traffic congestion in networks with link layer flow control is provided. The system comprises a physical queue monitor configured to monitor a state of a physical queue at a network device, a link layer flow control activator configured to activate link layer flow control based on the state of the physical queue, a proxy queue control module, a proxy queue monitor to monitor the state of the proxy queue, and a transport layer flow control activator. The proxy queue control module may be configured to update a state of a proxy queue based on the state of the physical queue. The proxy queue monitor may be configured to monitor the state of the proxy queue. The transport layer flow control activator may be configured to activate transport layer flow control based on the state of the proxy queue.

Abstract: Techniques for generating cyclic redundancy check (CRC) values are provided. Bit messages that are to be transmitted to recipients are aligned to desired byte boundaries for purposes of generating CRC values, which are to be sent with the bit messages. The CRC values are rewound or adjusted back to values associated with original lengths of the bit messages before the CRC values are transmitted or forwarded with the bit messages to recipients.

Abstract: A method and system to adjust Congestion Notification control loop parameters at a congestion point are provided. The system comprises a monitor to sample a state of a congestion point the congestion point being to receive messages from a reaction point; a history generator to generate an updated reaction to congestion history by consolidating the state of the congestion point with a current reaction to congestion history, the current reaction to congestion history being associated with a current feedback message; a message generator to generate an updated feedback message based on the updated reaction to congestion history; a message update module to replace the current feedback message with the updated feedback message; and a communications module to communicate the updated feedback message to the reaction point.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, applying network policy at a network device. In an example embodiment fibre channel hard zoning information may be received that indicates whether a fibre channel frame is permitted to be communicated between two fibre channel ports. Some example embodiments include identifying a media access control addresses associated with the fibre channel ports. An example embodiment may include generating one or more access control entries based on the fibre channel identifications of the fibre channel ports and the zoning information. The access control entries may be distributes to an Ethernet port to be inserted into an existing access control list and used to enforce a zoning policy upon fibre channel over Ethernet frames.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for applying network policy to communications originating at operating system virtual interfaces. In an example embodiment, a network device is networked with a switch. The network device may include a first operating system interface, a virtualization adapter, and an input output port. In an example embodiment, the virtualization adapter receives a first frame from the first operating system interface. The virtualization adapter may tag the first frame to indicate an association between the first frame and the first operating system interface. The first frame may then be transmitted with a second frame being associated with a second operating system interface, to the switch via the input output port. In an example embodiment, the switch is configured to receive the frame, examine a tag and then to enforce a network policy upon the first frame, based on the tag.

Abstract: A method and system for pre-empting a low-priority traffic with high-priority traffic over a serial link utilizes special codes to delimit a high-priority message embedded within a low-priority message.

Abstract: A method and system for pre-empting a low-priority traffic with high-priority traffic over a serial link utilizes special codes to delimit a high-priority message embedded within a low-priority message.