Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed in a data processing system for avoiding data loss during network port recovery. A first network port is linked to a second network port via a network. The second network port transmits data to the first network port via the network. A determination is made that the first network port needs to be reinitialized. Prior to the first network port executing a re-initialization process, the first network port notifies the second network port to pause its data transmissions to the first network port.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements to monitor communication components such as a network adapters for activity, and identify components that have lower than normal levels of activity are provided. An identified communication component can become suspect component and a candidate for further testing, including different forms of interrogation. Process for interrogating candidates can include generating and sending test packets having the media access control (MAC) address of the candidate to the candidate and if activity is not detected subsequent to the interrogation, the candidate can be flagged as a failed component. Correspondingly, the component can be deactivated and removed from service. In a further embodiment, a backup component can be activated and assume the role previously held by the failed component.

Abstract: A peripheral component Interconnect (PCI) switch that has at least one control logic device that is capable of changing, on-demand, widths of dedicated buses is provided. The buses are PCI Express buses and thus, are composed of lanes. The control logic device is a lane enable register (LER). Each location in the LER corresponds to a lane of a dedicated bus and is used to enable or disable the corresponding lane. Consequently, widths of dedicated buses are changed by using the switch of the invention to add or subtract one or more lanes from the buses.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for monitoring health of a data processing system. A determination is made whether a response is received within a first time period in response to an I/O device sending a receive descriptor to the data processing system. A determination is made whether a second time period passes before the receive descriptor becomes available for sending to the data processing system in response to an unavailability of the receive descriptor for sending by the I/O device to the data processing system. A health check is performed on the data processing system if the first time period passes without receiving a response. A health check is performed on the data processing system if the second time period passes without a receive descriptor becoming available to send the data processing system.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for offloading functions to improve processor performance. A single LAN adapter is provided that allows for predefined functions to be offloaded to other devices. Different methods are described for offloading functions. First, users and applications may pick and choose, on demand, only the functions that are to be offloaded. Second, a scheduler schedules those functions that are to be offloaded through a predetermined scheduler. Third, functions may be offloaded based on heuristic or learning methods which are stored in a knowledge database.

Abstract: Method, system and computer program product for protecting the integrity of data transferred between an input/output bus of a data processing system and an external network. A method for protecting the integrity of data transferred between an input/output bus and a network includes generating a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) value on an interface between the input/output bus and an adapter for data being transferred from the input/output bus to the network, and checking a CRC value on the interface between the input/output bus and the adapter for data being transferred from the network to the input/output bus. By adding a CRC generator and a CRC checker on the interface between the input/output bus and the adapter, end-to-end data integrity protection is provided for data transferred between the input/output bus and the network.

Abstract: A number of DMA addresses are resolved to system memory addresses at a time to decrease latency time. The number of addresses resolved at a time is preferably correlated to the number of DMA addresses that can be stored in a single cache line. Additionally, system memory is allocated in larger blocks that can store all of the information from the DMA addresses in a cache line. No change is required to the operating system, which can continue to operate on the page size it is set for. All changes are made in the hardware mapping programs and in the device driver software.

Abstract: Method, system and computer program product for transferring data in a data processing system network. A method for transferring data in a data processing system network according to the invention includes determining an adapter among a plurality of adapters that has the lowest transmit latency, and assigning data to be transferred to the adapter determined to have the lowest transmit latency. The data to be transferred is then transferred by the assigned adapter. The present invention utilizes network adapters to transfer data in a more efficient manner.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product in a data processing system are disclosed for dynamically selecting software buffers for aggregation in order to optimize system performance. Data to be transferred to a device is received. The data is stored in a chain of software buffers. Current characteristics of the system are determined. Software buffers to be combined are then dynamically selected. This selection is made according to the characteristics of the system in order to maximize performance of the system.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed in a data processing system for avoiding data loss during network port recovery. A first network port is linked to a second network port via a network. The second network port transmits data to the first network port via the network. A determination is made that the first network port needs to be reinitialized. Prior to the first network port executing a re-initialization process, the first network port notifies the second network port to pause its data transmissions to the first network port.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing data transfer in a data processing system. An amount of space available for storing data in a receive buffer is detected. In response to the amount of space available, a first priority for a receive function and a second priority for a transfer function is set. The first priority and the second priority is used to access resources for the data transfer.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for transferring data from a memory to a network adapter. A request is received to transfer data to a network adapter. An offset is set for a starting address of the data to align the data with an end of a frame in the memory, wherein the frame is transferred from the memory to the network adapter.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for transferring data from a memory to a network adapter in a data processing system. The frame size for a transfer of the data from the memory to the network adapter is identified. If the frame size is divisible by a cache line size without a remainder, a valid data length is set equal to the length field. However, if the frame size divided by the cache line size results in a remainder, the length field is set to align the data with the cache line size. The data transfer is then initiated using these fields.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer instructions for handling a failure of a primary adapter in a data processing system. The primary adapter is monitored for the failure by the device driver. A standby adapter handled by the device driver is switched in place of the primary adapter in response to detecting the failure.