Apparatus, system and method for providing multiple logical channel adapters within a single physical channel adapter in a systen area network

An apparatus for logically partitioning resources of a host channel adapter for use in a system area network, comprising:

• means for assigning a first logical identifier to a first set of resources of the host channel adapter to thereby define a first logical partition;
• means for assigning a second logical identifier to a second set of resources of the host channel adapter to thereby define a second logical partition;
• and
• means for providing a logical switching mechanism for routing of a data packet to one of the first set of resources or the second set of resources based on a logical identifier associated with the data packet.

A computer program product in a computer readable medium for logically partitioning resources of a host channel adapter for use in a system area network, comprising:

• first instructions for assigning a first logical identifier to a first set of resources of the host channel adapter to thereby define a first logical partition;
• second instructions for assigning a second logical identifier to a second set of resources of the host channel adapter to thereby define a second logical partition;
• and
• third instructions for providing a logical switching mechanism for routing of a data packet to one of the first set of resources or the second set of resources based on a logical identifier associated with the data packet.