Data forwarding by host/PCI-X bridges

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention generally relates to PCI-X (Peripheral Component Interconnect-X) bridges, and more particularly to Host/PCI-X bridges.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.

#It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

#FIG. 1 is a computer system 100 according to an embodiment.

#Embodiments are provided in which a method is described for transferring data in a digital system comprising a first bus, a second bus, and a bridge coupling the first and second buses. During system initialization, an initialization program collects system information of the digital system. Then, based on the system information of the digital system, the initialization program determines a buffered packet size and configures the bridge with the buffered packet size. After system initialization, the bridge transfers data from the first bus to the second bus via the bridge according to the buffered packet size.

#FIG. 1 is a computer system 100 according to an embodiment. In general, the computer system 100 may be a desktop or PC-based computer, a workstation, a network terminal, or other networked computer system. Illustratively, the computer system 100 includes a system interconnect 116. The computer system 100 also includes at least a processor 114, a main memory 118, an input device 120a, a storage device 120b, a terminal 120c, and PCI-X devices 120i and 120j (collectively, PCI-X devices 120); all coupled to system interconnect 116.

#Terminal 120c is any display device such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a plasma screen. The PCI-X devices 120i and 120j may be any devices that transfer data and control signals with other devices via the system interconnect 116 according to the PCI-X specification. Input device 120a can be any device to give input to the computer system 100. For example, a keyboard, keypad, light pen, touch screen, button, mouse, track ball, or speech recognition unit could be used. Further, although shown separately from the input device, the terminal 120c and input device 120a could be combined. For example, a display screen with an integrated touch screen, a display with an integrated keyboard or a speech recognition unit combined with a text speech converter could be used.