Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method for handling connections. The method includes receiving, by an OS, a request from an application to create a connection, wherein the request comprises a connection identifier and a SLA, creating, by the OS, the connection targeting the application in response to the request, and mapping the connection identifier to the SLA. The method further includes receiving data from the application for the connection, generating, by a network protocol stack on the OS, a packet from the data by storing the connection identifier into a plurality of headers of the packet, processing, by the network protocol stack, the packet according to the SLA to obtain a processed packet, and transmitting, by the network protocol stack, the processed packet to the network.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method for handling connections. The method includes receiving, by an OS, a request from an application to create a connection, wherein the request comprises a connection identifier and a SLA, creating, by the OS, the connection targeting the application in response to the request, and mapping the connection identifier to the SLA. The method further includes receiving data from the application for the connection, generating, by a network protocol stack on the OS, a packet from the data by storing the connection identifier into a plurality of headers of the packet, processing, by the network protocol stack, the packet according to the SLA to obtain a processed packet, and transmitting, by the network protocol stack, the processed packet to the network.

Abstract: A system including a first physical network interface card (NIC) include a number of rings, where at least one of the rings is an active ring. The system further includes a host, operatively connected to the first NIC, and including Media Access Control (MAC) layer. The MAC layer is configured to obtain a power management policy, obtain a load associated with the active ring, determine, using the power management policy and the load, that the state associated with at least one of the rings must be changed, and change, in response to the determining, the state of at least one of the of rings.