Method and apparatus for improving transmission performance by caching frequently-used packet headers
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorDaniel R. Gaur
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In some embodiments, a method is provided for transmitting packet headers in a network adapter across a network. In this embodiment memory protocol headers and application data into packet buffers are stored on a host. On the network adapter a MAC header storing in a cache. The stored packet buffers and stored MAC header are transmitted across a network thereby reducing DMA requests.
Claims28
A method for transmitting packet headers in a network adapter across a network comprising:
- storing in a host memory protocol headers and application data into packet buffers;
- storing in a cache on the network adapter at least one MAC header;
- and
- transmitting the stored protocol headers and application data and a selected MAC header across a network, wherein the transmitting includes selectively retrieving the selected MAC header from the cache or the host memory based, in part, on whether the selected MAC header was previously transmitted.
A computer system capable of transmitting packet headers across a network comprising:
- a processor and a host memory, wherein the host memory is to store protocol headers and application data into packet buffers;
- a network adapter having a local cache capable to store at least one MAC header;
- a DMA controller operative to pass the stored protocol headers and application data from the host memory to said network adapter;
- and
- said network adapter being operative to transmit both the stored protocol headers and application data passed by the DMA controller and a selected MAC header across a network, wherein said network adapter selectively retrieves the selected MAC header from the local cache or the host memory based, in part, on whether the selected MAC header has been previously transmitted.
An article comprising:
- storage medium having a plurality of instructions, which when executed by a
- processor, cause transmission of packets by:
- storing protocol headers and application data into packet buffers in a host memory;
- storing in a cache on a network adapter at least one MAC header;
- and
- transmitting the stored protocol headers and application data and a selected MAC header across a network, wherein the selected MAC header is selectively retrieved from the cache or the host memory based, in part, on whether the selected MAC header has been previously transmitted.
An adapter apparatus for transmitting packet headers, stored in a host memory of a computer as a protocol header and application data, across a network comprising:
- a network controller having a cache to store at least one MAC header, said network controller transmitting the stored protocol header and application data and a selected MAC header across a network, wherein the transmitting includes selectively retrieving the selected MAC header from the cache or the host memory based, in part, on whether the selected MAC header has been previously transmitted.
A system comprising:
- a host system comprising:
- a processor, and
- a host memory to store protocol headers and application data into packet buffers;
- a network adapter comprising:
- a local cache capable to store at least one MAC header, and
- logic to transfer the stored protocol headers and application data from the host memory to said network adapter, wherein said network adapter is operative to transmit both the stored protocol headers and application data passed by the logic to transfer and a selected MAC header across a network and wherein said network adapter selectively retrieves the selected MAC header from the local cache or the host memory based, in part, on whether the selected MAC header has been previously transmitted;
- and
- a bus to communicatively couple the network adapter with the host system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.