Method and apparatus for performing connection management with multiple stacks

A computer network, comprising:

• a plurality of computer systems;
• at least one input/output device;
• a switch network that connects the plurality of computer systems and the at least one input/output device for communication;
• and
• wherein the plurality of computer systems and the at least one input/output device comprise a network interface controller (“NIC”), each of the NICs having associated therewith a public identifier and a private identifier;
• a first protocol stack to operate according to a first protocol, the first protocol being associated with the public identifier;
• a second protocol stack to operate according to a second protocol, the second protocol being associated with the private identifier, the second protocol being the WinSock Direct (“WSD”) protocol;
• a storage device that directly associates the public identifier of at least one NIC with the first protocol stack;
• a storage device that directly associates the private identifier of at least one NIC with the second protocol stack;
• and
• wherein messages that incorporate the public identifier are directed to the first protocol stack and messages that incorporate the private identifier are directed to the second protocol stack, and wherein a message which is received and/or sent by one of the plurality of nodes is processed to determine whether an internet protocol (IP) address of the message is associated with the second protocol stack, and wherein if the IP address is not associated with the second protocol stack, the message is directed to the first protocol stack.

A method of communicating in a computer network having a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having a plurality of network interface controllers (“NICs”), each of the NICs having associated therewith a public identifier and a private identifier, the method comprising:

• defining a first protocol stack to operate according to a first protocol, the first protocol being associated with the public identifier;
• defining a second protocol stack to operate according to a second protocol, the second protocol being associated with the private identifier, the second protocol being the WinSock Direct (“WSD”) protocol;
• storing the public identifier of at least one NIC by directly associating the public identifier with the first protocol stack;
• storing the private identifier of at least one NIC by directly associating the private identifier with the second protocol stack;
• and
• directing messages that incorporate the public identifier to the first protocol stack and messages that incorporate the private identifier to the second protocol stack, and wherein a message which is received and/or sent by one of the plurality of nodes is processed to determine whether an internet protocol (IP) address of the message is associated with the second protocol stack, and wherein if the IP address is not associated with the second protocol stack, the message is directed to the first protocol stack.

A communication device for use in a first node of a system having a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having a network interface controller (“NIC”), each of the NICs being associated with a public identifier and a private identifier, the communication device comprising:

• a first protocol stack to operate according to a first protocol, the first protocol being associated with the public identifier;
• a second protocol stack that is adapted to operate according to a second protocol, the second protocol being associated with the private identifier, the second protocol being the WinSock Direct (“WSD”) protocol;
• a storage device that directly associates the public identifier of at least one NIC with the first protocol stack;
• a storage device that directly associates the private identifier of at least one NIC with the second protocol stack;
• and
• wherein a message which is received and/or sent by one of the plurality of nodes is processed to determine whether an internet protocol (IP) address of the message is associated with the second protocol stack, and wherein if the IP address is not associated with the second protocol stack, the message is directed to the first protocol stack.

A communication device for use in a node of a system having a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes having a network interface controller (“NIC”), each of the NICs being associated with a public identifier and a private identifier, the communication device comprising:

• a first protocol stack to operate according to a first protocol, the first protocol being associated with the public identifier;
• a second protocol stack to operate according to a second protocol, the second protocol being associated with the private identifier;
• a storage device that directly associates the public identifier of at least one NIC with the first protocol stack;
• a storage device that directly associates the private identifier of at least one NIC with the second protocol stack;
• wherein messages that incorporate the public identifier are directed to the first protocol stack and messages that incorporate the private identifier are directed to the second protocol stack, and wherein a message which is received and/or sent by one of the plurality of nodes is processed to determine whether an internet protocol (IP) address of the message is associated with the second protocol stack, and wherein if the IP address is not associated with the second protocol stack, the message is directed to the first protocol stack;
• and
• wherein the public identifier and the private identifier are media access control (“MAC”) addresses.

A computer system having a network interface controller (“NIC”), the NIC being associated with a public identifier and a private identifier, the computer system comprising:

• a first protocol stack to operate according to a first protocol, the first protocol being associated with the public identifier;
• a second protocol stack that is adapted to operate according to a second protocol, the second protocol being associated with the private identifier;
• a storage device that directly associates the public identifier of at least one NIC with the first protocol stack;
• a storage device that directly associates the private identifier of at least one NIC with the second protocol stack;
• wherein messages that incorporate the public identifier are directed to the first protocol stack and messages that incorporate the private identifier are directed to the second protocol stack, and wherein a message which is received and/or sent by one of the plurality of nodes is processed to determine whether an internet protocol (IP) address of the message is associated with the second protocol stack, and wherein if the IP address is not associated with the second protocol stack, the message is directed to the first protocol stack;
• and
• wherein the public identifier and the private identifier are media access control (“MAC”) addresses.