Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer-to-computer data routing – Least weight routing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-17
2004-07-06
Courtenay, III, St. John (Department: 2126)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer-to-computer data routing
Least weight routing
C710S260000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06760783
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a data network, and more particularly, relates to a Virtual Interrupt Mechanism for handling the flow of event information in a host.
BACKGROUND
Computer systems are designed to support one or more input/output (I/O) devices, including, for example, keyboards, input mouses, disk controllers, serial and parallel ports to printers, scanners, and display devices. These I/O devices and hardware resources may be available locally within a host or remotely via a data network (cluster) of interconnected nodes and switches that are linked together by a switched fabric. These I/O devices require intermittent servicing by a host processor in order to ensure proper operation. The host processor may be required to service these I/O devices with a specific resource in accordance with their individual needs while running one or more background programs. Usually, device event (interrupt) requests from hardware (e.g., local I/O devices or network adapters for communication with remote I/O devices via the switched fabric)
20
in a host
10
, as shown in
FIG. 1
, are routed to an interrupt controller (IC)
30
that can interrupt the host processor, forcing a branch (driver)
42
of an operating system (OS)
40
via a Kernel
44
to a special Interrupt Service Routine (IRS)
46
for execution when required. The IRS
46
typically performs actions required by the operating system (OS)
40
and the hardware
20
, disables interrupt signal generation from the hardware
20
, and determines the meaning of the interrupt.
However, when multiple software drivers
42
A-
42
N reside in a host
10
that share a single hardware
20
and are not aware of each other in an operating system environment as shown in
FIG. 2
, there may be problems in sharing a single hardware
20
. In addition, there is no mechanism for handling a large number of interrupts (event requests) and directing a particular interrupt (event request) and associated information to a specific driver in a host system having multiple software drivers. Accordingly, there is an urgent need for a mechanism to handle a large number of interrupts (event requests) and effectively direct a particular interrupt (event request) and associated information to a specific driver in a host, especially when such a host is connected to a data network of different endpoints (nodes) and switches that are linked together by a switched fabric.
SUMMARY
Accordingly, various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a host coupled to a switched fabric including one or more fabric-attached I/O controllers. Such a host may comprise a processor; at least one host-fabric adapter coupled to the processor and provided to interface with the switched fabric, which generates an event; and an operating system comprising multiple channel drivers and a host-fabric adapter software stack providing a virtual interrupt mechanism to each channel driver to handle the flow of event information between the host-fabric adapter and a designated channel driver for event processing.
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Blakely & Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman
Courtenay III St. John
Intel Corporation
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