Method for efficient routing in a network interface card

摘要

Packet switching is facilitated between a source and a destination through a network interface card. In accordance with an aspect, a NIC is configured to switch ingress packets—coming from the network—selectively to one or multiple destinations (in a NIC which is capable of replicating packets) on the host computer, and alternatively or additionally (in a NIC which is capable of replicating packets) back to one or multiple destinations on the network. In multi-port NICs, this capability effectively allows a NIC to perform the basic functions of a standalone network switch as well as additional useful functions.

主权项

1. Network interface circuitry configured to couple a host computer and a network, comprising:
a plurality of ports configured to transmit packets to and receive packets from the network; a memory configured to implement a plurality of receive queues for facilitating receipt of data by the host, the data being at least a portion of the packets received; logic to, based on a least a portion of a packet received on one of the plurality of ports, indicate which destination of one of any one of the ports and the host to indicate as a destination of data of the packet, wherein indicating the destination as said one of said any of the ports is an indication that the data of the packet is to be transmitted back out to the network from the network interface circuitry via the indicated said port.