Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Network-to-computer interfacing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-17
2001-12-25
Dinh, Dung C. (Department: 2153)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Network-to-computer interfacing
C709S249000, C709S241000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06334155
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to the field of networking in general and, in particular, to techniques for communicating between similar stacks in a processing node.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is relatively common for a single processing node of a network to run multiple stacks that handle different protocols. For example, a node might contain a TCP/IP stack for communications via the Internet or a corporate intranet, and at the same time run another stack such as perhaps a SNA (System Communications Architecture) stack for communications with IBM mainframes or IBM AS/400 nodes running IBM's APPN (Advanced-Peer-to-Peer) architecture. It is less common for a single node to run multiple stacks of the same type, say two or more TCP/IP stacks as one example. However, for performance reasons, it becomes desirable to run multiple stacks when the traffic load exceeds that which can be processed efficiently through a single stack. Naturally, if multiple similar stacks are executing in a single node, then occasions arise in which packets must be passed between two of the similar stacks. For example, if application A, which is served by stack A, wishes to communicate with application B, which is served by stack B, then the A and B stacks must communicate with each other in the same manner as if stacks A and B were in different nodes. In fact, in the prior art, this is exactly how this inter-stack communication is accomplished. Actual physical links are assigned between the stacks in the same manner as physical links are assigned between stacks in different nodes.
FIG. 1
shows an example of this prior art arrangement.
FIG. 1
shows a node
100
and two TCP/IP stacks A and B within the node
100
. Communications are established between the two stacks A and B using physical links
112
and
114
and write and read devices, such as
104
through
110
. The write and read devices
104
and
106
might be contained within the same communications adapter card. The same is true for devices
108
and
110
. However, this is not necessarily true in all cases, and four separate devices may be required for this full-duplex connection. Also associated with the read and write devices are conventional control blocks (not shown) which are used to administer the devices. The physical links
112
and
114
are assigned in a conventional manner between the stacks, as if the stacks were in different nodes. Thus, it is apparent that, while this arrangement is satisfactory from a functional point of view, it requires real resources that can become expensive and difficult to administer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention eliminates the need for physical resources to interconnect multiple and similar protocol stacks in a single node. This is accomplished by means of a virtual input/output device to replace the physical resources. “Virtual” here means that the device is implemented in software and provides all of the functions necessary to interconnect the stacks. The invention eliminates the need for physical links, read and write devices and control blocks as is required in the prior art.
In the preferred embodiment, a virtual input/output device implemented in software interconnects first and second stacks, both of which are executing the same protocol. A first connection object is established in the virtual input/output device in association with the first stack. A second connection object is established in the virtual input/output device in association with the second stack. An association is established in the virtual input/output device between the first connection object and the second connection object. This arrangement allows data communications between the first and second stacks via the first connection object and the second connection object of the virtual input/output device.
The first and second connection objects are built in the virtual input/output devicein response to a system or operator request to activate the virtual input/output device. As a result of this, a first service access point object is established in the virtual input/output device in association with the first stack and a second service access point object is established in the virtual input/output device in association with the second stack. A service access point object is a control block created to represent the user. For our purposes, the user can be thought of as a protocol stack. The SAP object holds status, user characteristics, addresses, tokens, etc. It anchors all subsequent related objects, such as protocol filter objects and the objects that represent the actual ene-to-end connection in a hierarchical order.
After the service access point objects are established, a first protocol filter object is established in association with the first stack and a second protocol filter object is established in association with the second stack. The protocol filter objects determine the protocol to be used by the first and second connection objects, respectively. The first and second connection objects are built after the service access point objects and the protocol filter objects have been established
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Long Lynn Douglas
Stevens Jerry Wayne
Dinh Dung C.
Doubet M. L.
Herndon J. W.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Safavian Seyed M
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