Systems and methods for input/output virtualization

A server aggregation system, comprising:

• a plurality of server nodes, each server node having at least one virtual machine (VM);
• and
• an aggregation device coupled between the plurality of server nodes, the aggregation device including:
• a plurality of virtual network interface cards (vNICs) in communication with the server nodes;
• and
• an input/output (I/O) processing complex, the I/O processing complex including at least one proxy NIC and a virtual switch that exchanges data with a server node of the plurality of server nodes via a communication path established by a vNIC of the plurality of vNICs between the at least one VM and at least one proxy NIC, wherein the I/O processing complex further includes a memory that temporarily stores the data exchanged between the server node and the virtual switch.

A method of performing an I/O operation in a virtualized network, comprising:

• creating a virtual switch at an aggregation device;
• and
• forming a communication path between a virtual machine at a server node and the virtual switch at the aggregation device, wherein forming the communication path between the virtual machine at the server node and the virtual switch at the aggregation device comprises:
• providing data to a local memory at the server node;
• sending a notification from a virtual interface at the server node to a virtual network interface card (vNIC) at the aggregation device;
• generating a descriptor at the server node;
• reading the descriptor to determine a destination of the data;
• and
• establishing a communication between the vNIC and a proxy NIC at the aggregation device.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising:
• computer readable program code configured to create a virtual switch at an aggregation device;
• and
• computer readable program code configured to form a communication path between a virtual machine at a server node and the virtual switch at the aggregation device, wherein forming the communication path between the virtual machine at the server node and the virtual switch at the aggregation device comprises:
• providing data to a local memory at the server node;
• sending a notification from a virtual interface at the server node to a virtual network interface card (vNIC) at the aggregation device;
• generating a descriptor at the server node;
• reading the descriptor to determine a destination of the data;
• and
• establishing a communication between the vNIC and a proxy NIC at the aggregation device.

A method for reducing overhead associated with an I/O virtualization operation, comprising:

• constructing and arranging a virtual switch at a server node aggregation device;
• and
• forming a data path over a communication channel between one or more server node virtual machines and a physical device in communication with the virtual switch, wherein forming the data path between the one or more server node virtual machines and the virtual switch comprises:
• sending a notification from a virtual machine of a server node to a virtual network interface card (vNIC) at the aggregation device;
• and
• establishing a communication path between the vNIC and a proxy NIC at the aggregation device.