Abstract: A method for virtualizing input/output whereby a back-end driver component running back-end in a privileged operating system address space configures an input/output adapter through a setup/control path is disclosed. The back-end driver component is used to register with the input/output adapter to allow for the receipt of information concerning a catastrophic event. Catastrophic event data is transmitted to an active front-end driver component running in a guest operating system address space, where a communication path was established between the active front-end driver component and the back-end driver component. The back-end driver component listens for requests from the active front-end driver component. Upon receipt, an input/output context association is established between an input/output context in the input/output adapter and the active front-end driver component.

Abstract: According to various illustrative embodiments of the present invention, a method to virtualize input/output comprises configuring an input/output adapter using a back-end driver component running back-end in a privileged operating system address space through a setup/control path. The method also comprises registering with the input/output adapter using the back-end driver component to receive information concerning a catastrophic event. The method also comprises transmitting the information concerning the catastrophic event to an active front-end driver component running in the front-end in a guest operating system address space, a communication path having been established between the active front-end driver component and the back-end driver component. The method also comprises listening with the back-end driver component to a request from the active front-end driver component.

Abstract: A computer system with a plurality of peripheral busses is adapted to permit multicast signals to be transmitted by a device on one peripheral bus to multiple devices on the other peripheral bus. In an exemplary embodiment, two PCI busses are provided, and master devices on either bus are capable of transmitting multicast signals to multiple targets on either bus. Targets of a multicast cycle are identified by a target identification signal on a first and a second multicast bus. A bus bridge relays the data for the multicast cycle between devices. In an exemplary embodiment, a sideband signal from the master to the bridge indicates a multicast signal has been transmitted on one of the PCI busses. In response, the bridge relays the multicast data to the second PCI bus, while also transmitting a sideband signal to devices on the second bus indicating multicast data is being transmitted on that bus. Targets identified on the second bus then capture the multicast data.

Abstract: A new technique for transferring data between nodes of a clustered computing system is disclosed. In one aspect, the invention includes a cluster node comprising a system bus; a memory device; and an internodal interconnect. The internodal interconnect is electrically connected to the system bus and includes a remote connection port. The internodal interconnect is capable of transferring data from the memory device and through the remote connection port. In a second aspect, a the invention includes method for internodal data transfer in a clustered computing system. Each of at least two clusters includes an internodal interconnect electrically connected to a system bus and a memory device to the system bus. The method itself comprises requesting a data transfer and then transferring the requested data. The requested data is transferred from the memory device in a first cluster node to the memory device in a second cluster node via the internodal interconnects in the first and second cluster nodes.

Abstract: A system and method for storing console information includes a first computing device having a first console and a first console interface operable to transmit first console information associated with the first console. A second computing device is coupled for communication with the first computing device. The second computing device may include a memory module operable to receive the first console information. In a particular embodiment, the memory module may be operable to store the first console information.

Abstract: A system and method for storing console information includes a plurality of computing devices, each computing device having a respective console, and a respective console interface. Each console interface may be operable to transmit console information associated with the respective console. A console server having a memory module may be coupled for communication with the plurality of computing devices. In a particular embodiment, the memory module may be operable to receive and store at least a portion of the console information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing latency caused by cumulative point-to-point messaging associated with network performance monitoring in SAN-attached I2O architectures. In a computer system, a performance monitoring OSM associated with a first node generates status request messages to a first multicast ISM residing on a first governor IOP associated with a first node for requesting the status from all nodes. The first multicast ISM generates status request messages to all node 1 devices and node 1 IOPs and to a second multicast ISM residing on a node 2 governor IOP. The second multicast ISM generates status request messages to all node 2 devices and node 2 IOPs. One or more “unhealthy” device response messages may be sent to the performance monitoring OSM containing the TID of the “unhealthy” device to allow a subsequent point-to-point detailed status request message to be issued.

Abstract: A computer system with a plurality of peripheral busses is adapted to permit multicast signals to be transmitted by a device on one peripheral device to multiple devices on the other peripheral bus in a single bus cycle. In an exemplary embodiment, two PCI busses are provided, and master devices on either bus are capable of transmitting multicast signals to multiple targets on either bus. Targets of a multicast cycle are identified by a target identification signal on a first and a second multicast bus. A bus bridge relays the data for the multicast cycle between bridges. In an exemplary embodiment, a sideband signal from the master to the bridge indicates a multicast signal has been transmitted on the bus. In response, the bridge relays the multicast data to the other bus, while also transmitting a sideband signal to devices on the second bus indicating multicast data is being transmitted on that bus. Targets identified on that bus than capture the multicast data.