Offload of TCP segmentation to a smart adapter

A method for sending data on a network from a data source executing a TCP/IP network protocol which includes a process for generating TCP/IP headers for packets according to the network protocol, through a network interface, comprising:

• establishing a connection with a destination for a session according to the TCP/IP network protocol;
• determining a TCP window size from the destination, which indicates an amount of data the destination is ready to receive;
• defining a datagram in the data source, including generating a TCP/IP header template and supplying a data payload having a size less than or equal to the window size;
• supplying the datagram, a segment size parameter, and a request to segment the datagram to the network interface;
• generating in the network interface, in response to the segment size parameter and to the request to segment, a plurality of packets from the datagram, including executing processes in the network interface to provide respective TCP/IP headers based on the TCP/IP header template, to provide respective segments of the data payload having lengths equal to or less than the segment size parameter, and to compute IP header checksums and TCP checksums for the plurality of packets;
• sending the plurality of packets to the destination;
• and
• receiving acknowledgment from the destination of receipt of the plurality of packets according to the network protocol.

A network interface device coupled to a host system including a data source, the data source executing a network protocol which includes a process for generating packet control data for packets according to the network protocol and sending packet on the network, comprising:

• a host interface coupled to the host system, adapted to receive a datagram in the data source, the datagram including a packet control data template and a data payload;
• memory to store at least portions of the datagram to the network interface;
• a processor that generates a plurality of packets from the datagram, the plurality of packets including respective packet control data based on the packet control data template, and including respective segments of the data payload;
• and
• a medium access control unit coupled to the memory and to a network medium that manages transfer of the plurality of packets to the network from the memory.