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AssigneeChelsio Communications, Inc.
InventorsAsgeir Thor Eiriksson, Dimitrios Michailidis, Wael Noureddine
Estimating the term…
The present invention is in the field of virtualization of Network Interface Cards and Controllers (NIC) that connect to for example a host computer that can have multiple functions and OS's (referred to as guest functions and guest-OS's) running on it simultaneously and, in particular, relates to the virtualization of the operation of a single NIC such that it can be used simultaneously by multiple guests in such a manner that memory references due to the network traffic originating from and destined to a particular guest is kept separate from other network traffic, and that allows the Media Access Controller (MAC) within the NIC to operate such that it only accepts network packets that are destined to one of the guest-functions or guest-OS's, and the MAC is not required to operate in promiscuous mode where it accept all incoming packets in order to implement the virtualization features.
A method of operating network interface circuitry, wherein the network interface circuitry is configured to couple a host computer to a network to facilitate communication over the network between the host computer and a peer, the method comprising:
A method of operating network interface circuitry, wherein the network interface circuitry is configured to couple a host computer, executing a plurality of guest functions, to a network to facilitate communication over the network between the host computer and a peer, the method comprising:
A method of operating network interface circuitry, wherein the network interface circuitry is configured to couple a host computer, executing at least one operating system, to a network to facilitate communication over the network between the host computer and at least one peer, the method comprising:
A method of operating network interface circuitry, wherein the network interface circuitry is configured to couple a host computer, executing a plurality of guest operating system instances, each guest operating system instance having associated with it at least one guest function, to a network to facilitate communication over the network between the host computer and a peer, the method comprising:
A network interface controller configured to couple a host computer to a network to facilitate communication over the network between the host computer and a peer, the network interface controller comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.