Hierarchical interrupt structure for event notification on multi-virtual circuit network interface controller

A method of processing a plurality of interrupt status words from a network interface controller (NIC) to a plurality of processes, the method comprising:

• outputting a first per-virtual circuit interrupt status word and a second per-virtual circuit interrupt status word;
• outputting a first NIC interrupt status word and a second NIC interrupt status word to a global event queue in a host system, the outputting based at least in part on receiving the first per-virtual circuit interrupt status word and the second per-virtual circuit interrupt status word;
• generating an interrupt signal to the host system to wake a proxy interrupt handler;
• and
• reading the first NIC interrupt status word and the second NIC interrupt status word from the global event queue, waking a first process and a second process, and sending the first NIC interrupt status word to the first process and the second NIC interrupt status word to the second process.

An apparatus to process a plurality of interrupt status words from a network interface controller (NIC) to a plurality of processes, the apparatus comprising:

• a NIC interrupter having a NIC interrupt output to send a first NIC interrupt status word output and a second NIC interrupt status word output, said NIC interrupter to generate an interrupt signal;
• a global interrupt queue to receive the first NIC interrupt status word and the second NIC interrupt status word;
• and
• a proxy interrupt handler to awaken based at least in part in response to the interrupt signal, read the first and second NIC interrupt status words from said global interrupt queue, wake a first process and a second process, and send the first NIC interrupt status word to the first process and the second NIC interrupt status word to the second process.

A method of processing a plurality of interrupt status words from a network interface controller (NIC) to a plurality of processes, the method comprising:

• receiving a first NIC interrupt status word and a second NIC interrupt status word;
• receiving an interrupt signal;
• reading the first NIC interrupt status word and the second NIC interrupt status word from a global event queue;
• waking a first process and a second process;
• and
• sending the first NIC interrupt status word to the first process and the second NIC interrupt status word to the second process.

A data communication system, comprising:

• a network;
• and
• a host node coupled to said network, the host node including memory,
• an operating system kernel stored in the memory, and
• a network interface controller (NIC) coupled to the operating system kernel, the NIC including
• a NIC interruptor having a NIC interrupt output to send a first NIC interrupt status word output and a second NIC interrupt status word output, said NIC interrupter to generate an interrupt signal,
• a global interrupt queue to receive the first NIC interrupt status word and the second NIC interrupt status word, and
• a proxy interrupt handler to awaken based at least in part in response to the interrupt signal, read the first and second NIC interrupt status words from said global interrupt queue, wake a first process and a second process, and send the first NIC interrupt status word to the first process and the second NIC interrupt status word to the second process.