Application of error detecting codes in a protocol-translating interconnect circuit

A method comprising:

• identifying a set of field groups in a plurality of fields transportable through a network interconnect circuit of a data processing network, each field group in the set of field groups common to a subset of communication protocols of a plurality of communication protocols, and
• configuring a first circuit to:
• for each field group, of the set of field groups, in a first communication protocol of the plurality of communication protocols:
• generate error detection information (EDI) for the field group, including generating an error detection code for data in the field group and setting a validity indicator associated with the error detection code;
• and
• configuring a second circuit to:
• for each field group, of the set of field groups, in a second communication protocol of the plurality of communication protocols:
• determine if a validity indicator associated with data in the field group is set in the EDI;
• and
• when the validity indicator is set:
• generate an error detection code for data in the field group;
• compare the generated error detection code with an error detection code associated with the data in the field group in the EDI;
• and
• signal an error in the data in the field group when the generated error detection code does not match the error detection code associated with the data in the field group in the EDI.

A data processing network comprising:

• a network interconnect circuit configured to:
• receive, at a first interface of the network interconnect circuit, first data in fields of a first communication protocol of a plurality of communication protocols;
• transport data in a plurality of fields from the first interface of the network interconnect circuit to a second interface of the network interconnect circuit, the plurality of fields including fields common to the first communication protocol and a second communication protocol of the plurality of communication protocols;
• transport error detection information (EDI) from the first interface of the network interconnect circuit to the second interface, the EDI including, for a set of field groups of the plurality of fields:
• an error detection code for data in the field group;
• and
• a validity indicator associated with the error detection code indicting whether the error detection code is valid;
• output second data in fields of the second communication protocol at the second interface of the network interconnect circuit;
• a first circuit configured to generate error detection information (EDI) for first data in field groups of the first communication protocol;
• and
• a second circuit configured to detect errors in the second data using EDI for second data in field groups of the second communication protocol.