Virtual host controller interface with multipath input/output

A processor-based system, including:

• a processor configured to generate input/output (I/O) requests;
• a memory in communication with the processor and configured to store program instructions;
• at least one target driver module stored in the memory and configured to generate instructions specific to at least one target device in communication with the system, the target device being coupled to the system by at least a first path and a second path;
• a virtual host controller interface in communication with the target driver module;
• a multipath driver module in communication with the virtual host controller interface;
• and
• at least one physical interface configured to couple the device;
• wherein the multipath driver module is configured to generate path information relating to paths to each target device and provide the path information to the virtual host controller interface, and the virtual host controller interface is configured to pass I/O requests to a physical interface associated with a selected target device.

A method for multipath input/output (I/O) communication with at least one target device coupled to a processor-based system, including the steps of:

• sending a first I/O packet from a first target driver to a virtual host controller interface;
• forwarding the I/O packet from the virtual host controller interface to a first physical interface;
• and
• transmitting the I/O packet from the first physical interface to the target device;
• wherein the virtual host controller interface includes information relating to a plurality of paths to the target device.