Method and apparatus for distributing switch/router capability across heterogeneous compute groups
OwnerMichael Rothman, Vincent Zimmerinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer system includes a network interface capable of receiving packets. The computer system includes a platform switch operating independently of an operating system. The operating system handles packets received for a local destination and the platform switch determines via a routing table, a next hop of a packet received for a non-local destination and forwards the packet to the next hop via the network interface.
Claims21
An apparatus comprising:
- a network interface capable of receiving packets;
- an operating system capable of handling packets received for a local destination;
- and
- a platform switch capable of operating independently of the operating system, the platform switch capable of determining via a routing table, a next hop of a packet received for a non-local destination and capable of forwarding the packet to the next hop via the network interface.
A method comprising:
- receiving a packet from a network interface;
- identifying a destination of the packet;
- upon identifying a local destination, alerting a local operating system to handle the received packet;
- upon identifying a non-local destination, forwarding the received packet for processing to a platform switch, the platform switch and operating system operating independently in a computer system;
- determining by the platform switch, via a routing table, a next hop along a path the packet may be routed to reach the destination;
- and
- forwarding the packet to the next hop via the network interface.
An article including a machine-accessible medium having associated information, wherein the information, when accessed, results in a machine performing:
- receiving a packet from a network interface;
- identifying a destination of the packet;
- upon identifying a local destination, alerting a local operating system to handle the received packet;
- upon identifying a non-local destination, forwarding the received packet for processing to a platform switch, the platform switch and operating system operating independently in a computer system;
- determining by the platform switch, via a routing table, a next hop along a path the packet may be routed to reach the destination;
- and
- forwarding the packet to the next hop via the network interface.
A system comprising:
- a disk drive capable of storing an operating system, the operating system capable of handling packets receiving for a local destination;
- a network interface capable of receiving packets;
- and
- a platform switch operating independently of the operating system, the platform switch capable of determining via a routing table, a next hop of a packet received for a non-local destination and capable of forwarding the packet to the next hop via the network interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.