US7143196B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for span port configuration
Assignee: Tahoe Research Ltd
•
Filing: 2002-06-28
•
Granted: 2006-11-28
•
Expires: 2022-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A shared I/O subsystem for a plurality of computer systems. The shared I/O subsystem includes a plurality of ports that communicatively couple the computer systems to the shared I/O subsystem where each of the ports includes at least one corresponding bit in an adjustable span port register. Data packets arriving on the plurality of ports may be selectively provided to a span port based on a current state of the adjustable span port register.
Inventors
- 👤 Todd Rimmer
- 👤 Duane McCrory
- 👤 William P. Jordan
- 👤 Joseph David Coyne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:45
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L45/00; H04L45/74; H04L45/742; H04L49/00; H04L49/35; H04L49/356; H04L49/358; H04L49/90; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/10; H04L67/1001; H04L67/1097; H04L67/50; H04L67/60; H04L67/63; H04L49/30; H04L49/3009; H04L49/60; H04L49/602; H04L69/00; H04L69/14; H04L69/18; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A shared I/O subsystem for a plurality of computer systems comprising: a plurality of ports communicatively coupling the computer systems to the shared I/O subsystem; a pair of register masks associated with each of the ports, wherein the pair of register masks corresponds to a logical switch mask and a span port register mask that is configurable independently of the logical switch mask; and data packets arriving on each of the plurality of ports are selectively provided to a span port based on a current state of the pair of register masks associated with the port on which the data packets arrived.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A shared I/O subsystem for a plurality of computer systems comprising: a plurality of ports communicatively coupling the computer systems to the shared I/O subsystem; a pair of register masks associated with each of the ports, wherein the pair of register masks corresponds to a logical switch mask and a span port register mask that is configurable independently of the logical switch mask; and data packets arriving on each of the plurality of ports are selectively provided to a span port based on a current state of the pair of register masks associated with the port on which the data packets arrived.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The shared I/O subsystem of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the ports is a virtual port.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The shared I/O subsystem of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the ports is an I/O interface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The shared I/O subsystem of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the ports is an Ethernet Media Access Control (MAC) port.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The shared I/O subsystem of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the data packets includes at least one of MAC address bits and VLAN address bits.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The shared I/O subsystem of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the data packets is one from the group of: a Multicast, a Unicast, and a Broadcast.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The shared I/O subsystem of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the ports is communicatively coupled to at least one of the computer systems having one or more MAC addresses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The shared I/O subsystem of a claim 3 , wherein the I/O interface is communicatively coupled to at least one of a network, an appliance, and a device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The shared I/O subsystem of claim 8 , wherein the network is a Storage Area Network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The shared I/O subsystem of claim 8 , wherein the network is an InterProcess Communications Network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The shared I/O subsystem of claim 8 , wherein the network is a Local Area Network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The shared I/O subsystem of claim 8 , wherein the network is a Wide Area Network.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The shared I/O subsystem of claim 8 , wherein the network is a Metropolitan Area Network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The shared I/O subsystem of claim 8 , wherein the network is a System Area Network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The shared I/O subsystem of claim 1 , wherein one of the computer systems uses an operating system that is different from an operating system used by one other of the computer systems.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The shared I/O subsystem of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the data packets conforms to a protocol that uses at least one of a Send/Receive message passing and a Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The shared I/O subsystem of claim 3 , wherein the I/O interface is operatively coupled to a network unit including at least one of a switch, a hub, a router, and a bridge.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
120 words
In a shared I/O subsystem for a plurality of computer systems, the shared I/O subsystem having a span port, a plurality of ports, and an adjustable span port register, a method comprising: communicatively coupling the plurality of ports to the computer systems; providing a pair of register masks associated with each of the ports, wherein the pair of register masks corresponds to a logical switch mask and a span port register mask that is configurable independently of the logical switch mask, and data packets arriving on each of the plurality of ports are selectively provided to the span port based on a current state of the pair of register masks associated with the port on which the data packets arrived.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
120 words
In a shared I/O subsystem for a plurality of computer systems, the shared I/O subsystem having a span port, a plurality of ports, and an adjustable span port register, a method comprising: communicatively coupling the plurality of ports to the computer systems; providing a pair of register masks associated with each of the ports, wherein the pair of register masks corresponds to a logical switch mask and a span port register mask that is configurable independently of the logical switch mask, and data packets arriving on each of the plurality of ports are selectively provided to the span port based on a current state of the pair of register masks associated with the port on which the data packets arrived.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
118 words
A shared I/O subsystem for a plurality of computer systems, the shared I/O subsystem having a span port, a plurality of ports, and an adjustable span port register, comprising: means for communicatively coupling the plurality of ports to the computer systems; a pair of register masks associated with each of the ports, wherein the pair of register masks corresponds to a logical switch mask and a span port register mask that is configurable independently of the logical switch mask, and data packets arriving on each of the plurality of ports are selectively provided to the span port based on a current state of the pair of register masks associated with the port on which the data packets arrived.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
118 words
A shared I/O subsystem for a plurality of computer systems, the shared I/O subsystem having a span port, a plurality of ports, and an adjustable span port register, comprising: means for communicatively coupling the plurality of ports to the computer systems; a pair of register masks associated with each of the ports, wherein the pair of register masks corresponds to a logical switch mask and a span port register mask that is configurable independently of the logical switch mask, and data packets arriving on each of the plurality of ports are selectively provided to the span port based on a current state of the pair of register masks associated with the port on which the data packets arrived.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US20040068589A1
Cited
US6816467B1
Cited
US6212591B1
Cited
US6857027B1
Cited
US20020133629A1
Cited
US20020161881A1
Cited
US20030200315A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-11-27 | 2010-05-29 | 2010-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-11-27 | 2014-05-29 | 2014-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-11-27 | 2018-05-29 | 2018-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |