Insertion of network data check sums by a network adapter.

摘要

A method implements checksumming of a network packet (60) to be sent over a network (30). A processor (15) constructs the network packet (60) within a main memory (11) . The network packet (60) is transferred from the main memory (11) to a packet storage memory (44) within a network adapter (12). During the transfer, the network adapter (12) calculates a checksum for the network packet (60). The network adapter (12) then inserts the checksum into the network packet (60) within the packet storage memory (44). The network adapter (12) then sends the network packet (60) to the network (30). In order to calculate the checksum for the network packet (60), hardware (42) within the network adapter (12) "snoops" an internal bus (49) within the network adapter (12) as the network packet (60) is transported to the packet storage memory (44). Also, a checksum header is prepended to the network packet (60) which includes control information for checksumming. This control information includes, for example, an indication whether the network adapter (12) is to calculate a checksum and a specification of what data in the network packet (60) is to be checksummed. The control information may additionally include a location within network packet (60) where the checksum is to be inserted. <IMAGE>