Interfacing a communication switch to a non-embedded device driver via a virtual device interface

摘要

A system and method for adding non-embedded network interface drivers to a communication switch with minimum impact on the switch. A proxy driver which presents the appearance of a network interface driver is embedded in the switch. An external hardware platform containing the non-embedded driver is connected to the proxy driver. The external hardware platform includes a proxy interface connected to the proxy driver. The proxy driver sends signals derived from the switch's internal interface to the proxy interface, which in turn replicates the switch's internal interface in the external hardware platform for controlling the non-embedded driver.