Abstract: A device and method for packet flow control is described. The method may comprise, at a packet sender device, adding a flow control identifier to a packet and transmitting a packet with the packet flow control identifier to a packet receiver device over a data path. Thereafter, the packet receiver device may receive, from the packet receiver device, flow control data that includes a received flow control identifier generated in response to the sent flow control identifier. The sent flow control identifier may then be compared with the received flow control identifier and a state of a receiver buffer at the receiver packet device may be estimated based on the comparison. In an example embodiment, at the packet sender device, a flow control instruction may be added to the packet to instruct the packet receiver device to enter a “no transmit” state.

Abstract: A device and method for packet flow control is described. The method may comprise, at a packet sender device, adding a flow control identifier to a packet and transmitting a packet with the packet flow control identifier to a packet receiver device over a data path. Thereafter, the packet receiver device may receive, from the packet receiver device, flow control data that includes a received flow control identifier generated in response to the sent flow control identifier. The sent flow control identifier may then be compared with the received flow control identifier and a state of a receiver buffer at the receiver packet device may be estimated based on the comparison. In an example embodiment, at the packet sender device, a flow control instruction may be added to the packet to instruct the packet receiver device to enter a “no transmit” state.

Abstract: A port adapter for connecting zero or more network interfaces to a host system having a SPI-4 bus is disclosed. The port adapter comprises zero or more network interfaces; a SPI-4 bus coupled to a host system to provide a communication channel between the host and the network interfaces; a control bus coupled to the host system for controlling and monitoring the port adapter; and interface logic that interfaces the SPI-4 bus and the control bus to the network interfaces. Methods are provided for selecting and using one of a small plurality of different packet formats for various networking technologies, so that the port adapter can hide details of the technology that it handles from the host system, and for operating the host system's SPI-4 bus at one of several speeds based on bandwidth requirements of the port adapter.

Abstract: A port adapter for connecting zero or more network interfaces to a host system having a SPI-4 bus is disclosed. The port adapter comprises zero or more network interfaces; a SPI-4 bus coupled to a host system to provide a communication channel between the host and the network interfaces; a control bus coupled to the host system for controlling and monitoring the port adapter; and interface logic that interfaces the SPI-4 bus and the control bus to the network interfaces. Methods are provided for selecting and using one of a small plurality of different packet formats for various networking technologies, so that the port adapter can hide details of the technology that it handles from the host system, and for operating the host system's SPI-4 bus at one of several speeds based on bandwidth requirements of the port adapter.

Abstract: A method for suppressing the viscosity of a calcium exotoxin slurry is disclosed. The method comprises adding to the slurry a viscosity-suppressing amount of a copolymer of a vinyl-based monomer and 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid or its sodium salt. The copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 10,000. A slurry comprising calcium exotoxin and about 0.25 to about 2.5 percent by weight of such copolymer is also disclosed.