Abstract: Apparatus for providing a checksum in a network transmission. In one aspect of the invention, a checksum for a packet to be transmitted on a network is determined by retrieving packet information from a storage device, the packet information to be included in the packet to be transmitted. A blind checksum value is determined based on the retrieved packet information, and the blind checksum value is adjusted to a protocol checksum based on descriptor information describing the structure of the packet. The protocol checksum is inserted in the packet before the packet is transmitted.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for logically partitioning resources of a single channel adapter for use in a system area network. Each resource includes a partition identifier register within which is stored a partition identifier. A first one of the resources is assigned to a first partition by storing a first partition identifier in the partition identifier register within the first one of the resources. A second one of the resources is assigned to a second partition by storing a second partition identifier in the partition identifier register within the second one of the resources. Partitioning of the resources is enforced by permitting access to the first resource by only the first partition and permitting access to the second resource by only the second partition by checking the partition identifiers of each resource.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and data processing system for providing system-area network (SAN) multicasting functionality in a logically partitioned (LPAR) data processing system in which a channel adapter is shared among a plurality of logical partitions is disclosed. A preferred embodiment of the present invention allows LPAR “hypervisor” firmware to assume the responsibility for multicast protocol handling and distribution of packets among logical partitions.

Abstract: Providing communications between operating system partitions and a computer network. In one aspect, an apparatus for distributing network communications among multiple operating system partitions includes a physical port allowing communications between the network and the computer system, and logical ports associated with the physical port, where each logical port is associated with one of the operating system partitions. Each of the logical ports enables communication between a physical port and the associated operating system partition and allows configurability of network resources of the system. Other aspects include a logical switch for logical and physical ports, and packet queues for each connection and for each logical port.

Abstract: An adapter includes registers, a local context table, and logic that allows copying hardware context structures from a first location in memory to a second location in memory while the computer system continues to run. The local context table in the adapter is loaded with a desired block of context entries from the first location in memory. Values in the registers cause the adapter to write this desired block of context entries to the second location in memory in a way that does not inhibit the operation of the computer system.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a first method of transmitting a data packet is provided. The first method includes the steps of (1) for each connection from which a data packet may be transmitted, storing header data corresponding to the connection; (2) employing a user application to form header and payload data of a packet, wherein the user application is associated with a connection from which the packet is to be transmitted; and (3) while transmitting the packet, comparing one or more portions of the packet header data with the header data corresponding to the connection with which the user application is associated. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: A system and method for computing a blind checksum includes a host Ethernet adapter (HEA) with a system for receiving a packet. The system determines whether or not the packet is in Internet protocol version four (IPv4). If the packet is not in IPv4, the system computes the checksum of the packet. If the packet is in IPv4, the system determines whether the packet is in transmission control protocol (TCP) or user datagram protocol (UDP). If the packet is not in either of TCP or UDP the system attaches a pseudo-header to the packet and computes the checksum of the packet based on the pseudo-header and the IPv4 standard.

Abstract: An Ethernet adapter is disclosed. The Ethernet adapter comprises a plurality of layers for allowing the adapter to receive and transmit packets from and to a processor. The plurality of layers include a demultiplexing mechanism to allow for partitioning of the processor. A Host Ethernet Adapter (HEA) is an integrated Ethernet adapter providing a new approach to Ethernet and TCP acceleration. A set of TCP/IP acceleration features have been introduced in a toolkit approach: Servers TCP/IP stacks use these accelerators when and as required. The interface between the server and the network interface controller has been streamlined by bypassing the PCI bus. The HEA supports network virtualization. The HEA can be shared by multiple OSs providing the essential isolation and protection without affecting its performance.

Abstract: An aliased queue pair is provided within a logically partitioned data processing system for each logical partition for the single general services management queue pair that exists within a physical host channel adapter. Packets intended for the logical ports are received at the physical port. Multiple partitions exist within the data processing system. When one of these partitions needs to use one of the logical ports, a queue pair is selected. The queue pair is then associated with the logical port. The queue pair is configured as an aliased general services management queue pair and is used by the partition as if the aliased queue pair were the single general services management queue pair provided in the channel adapter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus tracks packets and reliably transmits data over a computer transmission system with a reduced amount of memory needed in the transmission interface. The invention eliminates the need to keep all the packets of data queued until the acknowledge message for that data has arrived. Instead, it keeps track of how many packets have been sent and which packets correspond to the end of a message, marking them off when acknowledge messages are received. If packets are lost, the invention determines which packet were lost, backs up to the lost packet, re-fetches the data and resends it. Embodiments of the present invention eliminate the need to queue packets, reducing silicon size and allowing the available bandwidth of the output bus to be more fully utilized.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing a checksum in a network transmission. In one aspect of the invention, a checksum for a packet to be transmitted on a network is determined by retrieving packet information from a storage device, the packet information to be included in the packet to be transmitted. A blind checksum value is determined based on the retrieved packet information, and the blind checksum value is adjusted to a protocol checksum based on descriptor information describing the structure of the packet. The protocol checksum is inserted in the packet before the packet is transmitted.

Abstract: A method for performing a lookup for a packet in a computer network are disclosed. The packet includes a header. The method includes providing a parser, providing a lookup engine coupled with the parser, and providing a processor coupled with the lookup engine. The parser is for parsing the packet for the header prior to receipt of the packet being completed. The lookup engine performs a lookup for the header and returns a resultant. In one aspect, the lookup includes performing a local lookup of a cache that includes resultants of previous lookups. The processor processes the resultant.

Abstract: An adapter includes registers, a local context table, and logic that allows copying hardware context structures from a first location in memory to a second location in memory while the computer system continues to run. The local context table in the adapter is loaded with a desired block of context entries from the first location in memory. Values in the registers cause the adapter to write this desired block of context entries to the second location in memory in a way that does not inhibit the operation of the computer system.

Abstract: A system for performing a lookup for a packet in a computer network are disclosed. The packet includes a header. The system includes a parser, a lookup engine coupled with the parser, and a processor coupled with the lookup engine. The parser parses the packet for the header prior to receipt of the packet being completed. The lookup engine performs a lookup for the header and returns a resultant. In one aspect, the lookup includes performing a local lookup of a cache that includes resultants of previous lookups. The processor processes the resultant.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and data processing system for providing system-area network (SAN) multicasting functionality in a logically partitioned (LPAR) data processing system in which a channel adapter is shared among a plurality of logical partitions is disclosed. A preferred embodiment of the present invention allows LPAR “hypervisor” firmware to assume the responsibility for multicast protocol handling and distribution of packets among logical partitions.

Abstract: An adapter includes registers, a local context table, and logic that allows copying hardware context structures from a first location in memory to a second location in memory while the computer system continues to run. The local context table in the adapter is loaded with a desired block of context entries from the first location in memory. Values in the registers cause the adapter to write this desired block of context entries to the second location in memory in a way that does not inhibit the operation of the computer system.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and data processing system for providing system-area network (SAN) multicasting functionality in a logically partitioned (LPAR) data processing system in which a channel adapter is shared among a plurality of logical partitions is disclosed. A preferred embodiment of the present invention allows LPAR “hypervisor” firmware to assume the responsibility for multicast protocol handling and distribution of packets among logical partitions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus tracks packets and reliably transmits data over a computer transmission system with a reduced amount of memory needed in the transmission interface. The invention eliminates the need to keep all the packets of data queued until the acknowledge message for that data has arrived. Instead, it keeps track of how many packets have been sent and which packets correspond to the end of a message, marking them off when acknowledge messages are received. If packets are lost, the invention determines which packet were lost, backs up to the lost packet, re-fetches the data and resends it. Embodiments of the present invention eliminate the need to queue packets, reducing silicon size and allowing the available bandwidth of the output bus to be more fully utilized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus tracks packets and reliably transmits data over a computer transmission system with a reduced amount of memory needed in the transmission interface. The invention eliminates the need to keep all the packets of data queued until the acknowledge message for that data has arrived. Instead, it keeps track of how many packets have been sent and which packets correspond to the end of a message, marking them off when acknowledge messages are received. If packets are lost, the invention determines which packet were lost, backs up to the lost packet, re-fetches the data and resends it. Embodiments of the present invention eliminate the need to queue packets, reducing silicon size and allowing the available bandwidth of the output bus to be more fully utilized.

Abstract: Concurrent read access and exclusive write access are provided in a shared memory architecture to permit one or more devices in the shared memory architecture to maintain read access to a block of memory such as a cache line while one device has exclusive permission to modify that block of memory. By doing so, a device that has permission to modify may make updates to its copy of the block of memory without invalidating other copies of the block of memory, and potentially enabling other devices to continue to read data from their respective copies of the block of memory without having to retrieve the updated copy of the block of memory.