Direct memory access (DMA) transfer of network interface statistics

A system, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• a memory;
• and
• at least one network interface controller, wherein the network interface controller, comprises:
• at least one interface to a physical layer device (PHY);
• at least one network media access controller (MAC) communicatively coupled to the at least one interface to the PHY;
• at least one direct memory access (DMA) controller to transfer data to the memory, the data including packets received via the at least one interface to the PHY and the at least one MAC;
• storage to hold configuration settings, wherein the configuration settings comprise:
• a timer value specifying a recurring timer interval to transfer operation statistics of the network interface controller by DMA to the memory;
• a location in the memory to transfer the operation statistics to;
• at least one indication of a one-shot, non-recurring, transfer of the operation statistics;
• at least one indication of a selection of the operation statistics;
• and circuitry to, when in operation:
• in response to the configuration settings being configured for a one-shot request, perform a non-recurring, one time DMA transfer of the operation statistics to the memory via an interface;
• and
• in response to the configuration settings being configured for the recurring timer interval, repeatedly causing transfer of the operation statistics of the network interface controller by DMA to the memory based on periodicity specified by the timer value.

A set of instructions, disposed on a tangible non-transitory medium, that cause a processor, when in operation, to:

• cause transfer of data from at least one direct memory access (DMA) controller of a network controller to a memory, the data including packets received via the network interface controller;
• cause storage of network interface controller configuration settings, the network interface controller configuration settings comprising:
• a timer value specifying a recurring timer interval to transfer operation statistics of the network interface controller by DMA to a memory;
• a location in the memory to transfer the operation statistics to;
• at least one indication of a one-shot, non-recurring, transfer of the operation statistics;
• at least one indication of a selection of the operation statistics;
• and
• wherein the operation statistics comprise at least one of:
• a number of bytes transmitted by a network interface controller, a number of bytes received by a network interface controller, a number of packets transmitted by a network interface controller, a number of packets received by a network interface controller, a count of packets in buckets associated a different packet sizes, and at least one error condition;
• wherein the configuration settings for a one-shot request a one time DMA transfer of the operation statistics of the network controller to the memory via an interface;
• and
• wherein the configuration settings for the recurring timer interval request repeated transfer of the operation statistics of the network controller by DMA to the memory based on periodicity specified by the timer value.