Networking using PCI Express

摘要

Datalink frames or networking packets contain protocol information in the header and optionally in the trailer of a frame or a packet. We are proposing a method in which part of or all of the protocol information corresponding to a frame or a packet is transmitted separately in another datalink frame. The “Separately Transmitted Protocol Information” is referred to as STPI. The STPI contains enough protocol information to identify the next hop node or port. STPI can be used avoid network congestion and improve link efficiency. Preferably, there will be one datalink frame or network packet corresponding to each STPI, containing the data and the rest of the protocol information and this frame/packet is referred to as DFoNP. The creation of STPI and DFoNP is done by the originator of the frame or packet such as an operating system.

主权项

1. A method implemented in a first network apparatus used for forwarding network packets, wherein said first network apparatus is used for interconnecting network nodes in a network, wherein said first network apparatus uses PCI Express transactions for communicating to a PCI Express root bridge connected to it, wherein said first network apparatus behaves like a PCI Express end node, said method comprising:
a) receiving a first address of a network packet; b) using said first address of said network packet for reading said network packet; c) receiving said network packet in a first PCI Express read completion; and d) writing said network packet to memory in a destination node of said network packet.