NIC WITH SWITCHING FUNCTIONALITY BETWEEN NETWORK PORTS

摘要

A network interface device includes a host interface for connection to a host processor and a network interface, which is configured to transmit and receive data packets over a network, and which comprises multiple distinct physical ports configured for connection to the network. Processing circuitry is configured to receive, via one of the physical ports, a data packet from the network and to decide, responsively to a destination identifier in the packet, whether to deliver a payload of the data packet to the host processor via the host interface or to forward the data packet to the network via another one of the physical ports.

主权项

1. A network interface device, comprising:
a host interface for connection to a host processor; a network interface, which is configured to transmit and receive data packets over a network, and which comprises multiple distinct physical ports configured for connection to the network; and processing circuitry, which is configured to receive, via one of the physical ports, a data packet from the network and to decide, responsively to a destination identifier in the packet, whether to deliver a payload of the data packet to the host processor via the host interface or to forward the data packet to the network via another one of the physical ports.