System and method for network protocol offloading in virtual networks

摘要

Disclosed herein are a system and method for network protocol offloading in virtual networks. An embodiment method of offloading a network protocol processing task for a message includes receiving, at a virtual switch, the message from a virtual source node destined for a virtual receiver node. The network protocol processing for the message is offloaded from the virtual source node and deferred when the virtual receiver node is safe for network protocol offloading. When the virtual receiver node is unsafe for network protocol offloading, the network protocol processing task is executed within the virtual switch. When the virtual receiver node is safe for network protocol offloading and a path between the virtual switch and the virtual receiver node includes a physical network interface, the network protocol processing task is executed using the physical network interface.

主权项

1. A method of offloading a network protocol processing task for a message, comprising:
receiving, at a virtual switch from a virtual source node, the message destined for a virtual receiver node; deferring the network protocol processing task when the virtual receiver node is safe for network protocol offloading and a path between the virtual switch and the virtual receiver node does not include a physical network interface that is safe for network protocol offloading; executing, within the virtual switch, the network protocol processing task when the virtual receiver node is unsafe for network protocol offloading; and executing the network protocol processing task using the physical network interface when the virtual receiver node is safe for network protocol offloading and the path between the virtual switch and the virtual receiver node includes the physical network interface.