Network interface controller for virtual and distributed services

A processor readable non-transitory medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• receive a packet at a network interface card from a data communication network;
• classify, within the network interface card, the packet to select one of multiple flow tables to which the packet should be assigned to obtain a selected flow table, wherein classifying is based, at least, on a logical interface with which the packet is associated;
• process the packet based on information stored in the selected flow table;
• and
• pass the packet to one of a plurality of virtual machines operating on a computer to which the network interface card is communicatively connected, the one of the virtual machines being associated with the logical interface and having within the network interface card a respective dedicated virtual network interface controller from among a plurality of virtual network interface controllers.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a forwarding module configured to receive a packet from an electronic network and determine a logical interface with which the packet is associated;
• a classifier module configured to identify a flow with which the packet is associated based on the logical interface;
• and
• a plurality of flow tables, one of which is configured to be selected based on the flow with which the packet is associated, the selected flow table configured to process the packet in accordance with a predetermined policy,
• wherein the apparatus is configured to operate multiple dedicated virtual network interface controllers that are configured to serve respective virtual machines running on a server when the apparatus is communicatively coupled to the server.