Abstract:
An apparatus and method detects trapped data at an intermediate node in a network path between a source node and a destination node, and re-routes that data to a downstream intermediate node in the network path via an alternate network path. An apparatus and method may include a virtualized physical interface, and may redirect the trapped data through a system's packet switched network, or through a system's flit switched network.
Abstract:
Various embodiments improve the operation of computers by providing methods of transmitting data with low latency and high bandwidth. Data may be transmitted in a packet composed of data flits, the data flits having at least two different formats configured to implement different communication protocols. In some embodiments, a given flit may be transmitted using two different modulation methods, with a first part of the flit transmitted using a first modulation method, such as a binary method, and a second part of the flit using a higher-order modulation method.
Abstract:
A system and method provide a communications link having a plurality of lanes, and an in-band, real-time physical layer protocol that keeps all lanes on-line, while failing lanes are removed, for continuous service during fail over operations. Lane status is monitored real-time at the physical layer receiver, where link error rate, per lane error performance, and other channel metrics are known. If a lane failure is established, a single round trip request/acknowledge protocol exchange with the remote port completes the fail over. If a failing lane meets an acceptable performance level, it remains on-line during the round trip exchange, resulting in uninterrupted link service. Lanes may be brought in or out of service to meet reliability, availability, and power consumption goals.