Abstract: A dynamic workload feedback mechanism is provided at a service provider to notify a client a current workload of the service provider in a switched fabric in order to prevent unnecessary timeouts and retries of duplicate service requests.

Abstract: According to the present invention, methods and apparatus are provided to allow selective distribution of video information over packet based networks. Video information associated with a particular channel is received at an edge router from a cell based network. The edge router uses label switching to selectively distribute the video information to designated nodes in the packet based network.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for implementing flow control coordination in a gateway between a TCP/IP network and a second network. The second network may be any type of network, including another TCP/IP network. In some implementations, the throughput of the TCP/IP network is controlled by modifying the round trip time observed by a TCP connection. In other implementations, the throughput of the TCP/IP network is controlled by modifying the size of the TCP window.

Abstract: A cluster includes hosts, a fabric including switches with forwarding tables, and I/O enclosures. I/O controllers that are within the I/O enclosures are assigned to the hosts by a subnet manager. A fabric control driver within each host determines a list of drivers which correspond to the I/O controllers assigned to the host and that need to be loaded into the host. Before loading the drivers into the host, the fabric control driver sends a verification message for each driver to the I/O enclosure containing the I/O controller that corresponds to the driver. As responses to the verification messages are received, the fabric control driver loads drivers and modifies the list of drivers accordingly.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for accessing service agents on non-subnet manager hosts in an Infiniband subnet. A service agent at a first host registers with a first General Service Agent (GSA) at the first host. The registration is sent to a second GSA at a second host if the first host is not a subnet manager. The second host is a subnet manager. The second host sends a request for access/identification information to the service agent. The requested access/identification information is received at the second host. A service request is received at the second host for the service agent at the first host. The service request is from a client on the Infiniband subnet. The client is redirected to the first host by the second host sending the client a message. The service request for the service agent is sent to the first host by the client. The first host, second host, and client are part of an Infiniband subnet.

Abstract: A system and method for testing the implementation of a remote access protocol in network servers and/or clients goes through test cases with different server-client configuration combinations in an automated and distributed process. The testing system includes at least one test controller, a client pool, a server pool, and a database that maintains the test cases to be tested. Servers and clients participating in the distributed testing are registered with the test controller, which matches a server with a client based on their configuration capabilities and/or other factors. Test cases selected from the database are then assigned to the server-client pair for execution. For each assigned test case, the client assumes the client configuration of that case and calls the server to establish a connection under the remote access protocol, and the server assumes the server configuration test results for the executed test cases are stored for monitoring and generating reports.

Abstract: A technique is provided for assigning an I/O controller to a host in a cluster. The cluster includes one or more hosts and one or more I/O controllers connected by a cluster interconnection fabric. In an example embodiment, an I/O controller is connected to the cluster interconnection fabric. The I/O controller connected to the fabric is detected and a network address is assigned to the I/O controller. An administrative agent is used to assign the I/O controller to a host that is connected to the cluster interconnection fabric. A message is sent to the host informing the host that the I/O controller is assigned to the host and providing the network address of the I/O controller.

Abstract: A method for causing a host channel adaptor which is involved with a clustered arrangement to hibernate. Before the HCA can hibernate, it is necessary for its clients to hibernate first. Once this is accomplished, all data is stored in memory and the HCA goes into hibernation. It resumes operation when a request is received. The HCA is checked to see if it has been changed and various parameters are examined to determine if an error has occurred which is unrecoverable. If not, the operation of the device is resumed.

Abstract: Reliability and robustness of a cluster having a host connected thereto via a cluster interconnection fabric may be enhanced by determining if an error condition exists in an I/O controller connected to the host via the cluster interconnection fabric by attempting to communicate with it a first predetermined time period after an inquiry by an operating system as to whether or not an I/O controller driver stack should be unloaded and commanding the operating system to unload the I/O controller driver stack upon a determination that the error condition still exists. The determination as to whether the error condition still exists may be repeated a predetermined number of times prior to commanding the unloading of the I/O controller driver stack upon a determination that the error condition still exists.

Abstract: A technique is provided for assigning an I/O controller to a host in a cluster. The cluster includes one or more hosts and one or more I/O controllers connected by a cluster interconnection fabric. In an example embodiment, an I/O controller is connected to the cluster interconnection fabric. The I/O controller connected to the fabric is detected and a network address is assigned to the I/O controller. An administrative agent is used to assign the I/O controller to a host that is connected to the cluster interconnection fabric. A message is sent to the host informing the host that the I/O controller is assigned to the host and providing the network address of the I/O controller.

Abstract: A method for causing a host channel adaptor which is involved with a clustered arrangement to hibernate. Before the HCA can hibernate, it is necessary for its clients to hibernate first. Once this is accomplished, all data is stored in memory and the HCA goes into hibernation. It resumes operation when a request is received. The HCA is checked to see if it has been changed and various parameters are examined to determine if an error has occurred which is unrecoverable. If not, the operation of the device is resumed.

Abstract: In a virtual machine environment, the invention enables creation of a long running, reusable, virtual machine are disclosed. The environment includes a shared heap where requisite runtime code to bring the virtual machine into a ‘ready’ mode are loaded, linked, verified, initialized and compiled. Subsequent virtual machines are started and jointly use the shared heap. Applications create their objects in ‘private heaps’ that are exclusively reserved for the respective applications. At the end of execution of an application, each private heap is reinitialized. Static initializers are run in a persistent area of each private heap. This persistent area is reset to its initial values in between execution of applications. This obviates the need to terminate the virtual machine.

Abstract: A cluster includes a fabric, a host coupled to the fabric, an I/O enclosure coupled to the fabric, and a subnet manager. The subnet manager performs a topology discovery of the cluster and detects ports associated with the fabric. The subnet manager computes a minimal spanning tree for the cluster, which connects every port to every other port through a single path. The subnet manager assigns a single base LID to each port and programs the assigned LIDs into forwarding tables in the fabric. Additional LIDs are reserved for each port while the single base LID is assigned to each port such that the fabric is functional and connected when the subnet manager is performing a path analysis of the cluster.

Abstract: A topology change notification mechanism is provided to notify topology changes in a subnet of a switched fabric including at least a host system, a target system and switches interconnected via links. Such a mechanism may be installed in a host system to allow a client at one of the host system and the target system to create and communicate a list of topology changes that are interesting to the client for topology change notifications; determining if a topology change occurred in the switched fabric is in the list of topology changes created by the interested client; and reporting a topology change event to the interested client if the topology change is in the list of topology changes created by the interested client.

Abstract: A host is coupled to a cluster interconnection fabric which includes a fabric-attached I/O controller. The host includes a processor, a memory coupled to the processor and an operating system. The operating system includes a kernel and a fabric bus driver to provide an I/O bus abstraction to the kernel for the cluster interconnection fabric. The fabric bus driver presents the cluster interconnection fabric to the kernel as a local I/O bus, and presents the fabric-attached I/O controller to the kernel as a local I/O controller attached to a local I/O bus.

Abstract: A network-based method for initiating and completing a voice telephony call via the Internet comprises the steps of receiving call completion data at a voice/data network gateway of the public switched telephone network from an Internet application web server, which may comprise an Internet service provider or other entity serving Internet users via an Internet application web server, and transmitting call completion data to telecommunications switches for connecting an Internet user to a telephone of an application agent associated with the Internet server. The application agent may be associated with a 1-8YY toll-free number or other national or international telephone number. Call progress data is translated into data communications protocol format to be returned to the Internet server where it may be displayed to the user. Preferably, the link between the Internet application web server and the voice/data network gateway comprises a telecommunications data link, for example, an ISDN data link.

Abstract: A host is coupled to a cluster interconnection fabric which includes a fabric-attached I/O controller. The host includes a processor, a memory coupled to the processor and an operating system. The operating system includes a kernel and a fabric bus driver to provide an I/O bus abstraction to the kernel for the cluster interconnection fabric. The fabric bus driver presents the cluster interconnection fabric to the kernel as a local I/O bus, and presents the fabric-attached I/O controller to the kernel as a local I/O controller attached to a local I/O bus.

Abstract: A cluster operating in accordance with an integrating operating system independent power management with operating system directed power management includes a group of hosts connected together by a cluster interconnection fabric. A cluster administrator is connected to the group of hosts via the fabric and the cluster administrator includes a cluster power manager. A group of input/output units are connected to the group of hosts and the cluster interconnection fabric. Each of the hosts includes a controller element and an operating system power manager and input/output controller device driver stack. The cluster administrator transmits a request to the controller element of one of the hosts via the fabric and receives a reply therefrom and transmits a command. The controller element transmits the command to the operating system power manager and the input/output controller device driver stack of its host and transmits a command completion acknowledgment to the cluster power manager.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided at a host node to determine the optimal number of receive buffers to post for entities (clients) in order to receive incoming data messages in a switched fabric for scalable solutions.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided at a host system to allow multiple entities (clients) to send and receive messages of a particular class of management services in a switched fabric for scalable solutions.