Intelligent Network Interface Card Fast-Path Data Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network devices face inefficiencies in processing network communications, particularly in file data transfers between networks and storage units, leading to increased CPU usage and limitations in storage capacity and bandwidth, especially in network file servers and storage area networks.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent network interface card (INIC) is introduced, which includes hardware circuitry for processing network packet headers and a dedicated fast-path for data transfer between networks and storage units, reducing the host CPU's involvement in protocol processing and freeing up bus bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional network devices process protocol layers sequentially by CPU, then protocol processing is completed, but CPU processing power is consumed and data transfer speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network protocol processing into two distinct paths: a fast-path for data transfer and a slow-path for protocol processing. The fast-path handles data transfer operations directly without CPU intervention, while the slow-path processes protocol layers sequentially by CPU. This segmentation allows data transfer speed to be improved without consuming CPU processing capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (fast-path processing unit) that mediates between data transfer operations and CPU protocol processing. This intermediary handles data transfer tasks independently, acting as a buffer that prevents data transfer operations from blocking CPU protocol processing, thereby resolving the contradiction between data transfer speed and CPU productivity.
2Productivity
If host CPU processes all network protocol processing, then control is maintained, but bus bandwidth is consumed and storage access is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts protocol processing tasks from the host CPU and relocates them to dedicated processing units in the network interface card. This extraction frees up host bus bandwidth that would otherwise be consumed by protocol processing, thereby increasing storage access capacity and bus bandwidth availability for data transfer operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The network interface card performs protocol processing autonomously using its dedicated processing units, eliminating the need for host CPU intervention in data transfer operations. This self-service capability allows the interface card to manage its own protocol processing without consuming host bus resources, thereby increasing overall storage access capacity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If parallel SCSI interfaces are used for storage connections, then storage devices can be attached, but the number of devices and connection distance are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal interface architecture that can operate with multiple storage interface types (parallel SCSI, Serial ATA, Fibre Channel, etc.) through a single network interface card. The interface card provides multi-functional capabilities to support different storage protocols and connection types, thereby increasing storage device connectivity and adaptability without increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of storage interface communication from parallel data transfer to packet-based network communication. This parameter change allows the system to overcome the inherent limitations of parallel SCSI interfaces regarding the number of attachable devices and connection distance, while maintaining compatibility with various storage protocols through configuration parameter adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
An interface device is connected to a host by an I/O bus and provides hardware and processing mechanisms for accelerating data transfers between a network and a storage unit, while controlling the data transfers by the host. The interface device includes hardware circuitry for processing network packet headers, and can use a dedicated fast-path for data transfer between the network and the storage unit, the fast-path set up by the host. The host CPU and protocol stack avoids protocol processing for data transfer over the fast-path, freeing host bus bandwidth, and the data need not cross the I/O bus, freeing I/O bus bandwidth. The storage unit may include RAID or other multiple drive configurations and may be connected to the INIC by a parallel channel such as SCSI or by a serial channel such as Ethernet or Fibre Channel. The interface device contains a file cache that stores data transferred between the network and storage unit, with organization of data in the interface device file cache controlled by a file system on the host. Additional interface devices may be connected to the host via the I/O bus, with each additional interface device having a file cache controlled by the host file system, and providing additional network connections and/or being connected to additional storage units.