System and methods for managing virtual adapter instances

1. A machine-implemented method for managing a virtual adapter instance associated with a physical adapter, comprising:

installing a virtual port driver manager, the virtual port driver manager being configured to manage installation and removal of virtual drivers as virtual adapter configurations are created, modified, updated or removed without a need to use legacy plug-n-play (PNP) modules;

configuring a PNP thread for detecting a change in configuration of the virtual adapter instance, wherein the PNP thread monitors virtual adapters and virtual adapter configurations;

the PNP thread detecting if the configuration has changed for the virtual adapter instance, at any given time;

the PNP thread comparing a changed configuration with a previous configuration of the virtual adapter instance;

the virtual port driver manager installing a new virtual adapter instance, if new information is present in the changed configuration;

the virtual port driver manager uninstalling the virtual adapter instance, if information from the previous configuration was removed; and

the virtual port driver manager reinstalling a virtual adapter instance of an existing virtual adapter when the existing virtual adapter is modified.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a processor executing programmable instructions configures the (PNP) thread for detecting change in configuration.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of virtual adapter instances associated with the physical adapter are used by one or more computing systems to send and receive information via the physical adapter.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the adapter sends and receives network information according to a network protocol.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the adapter sends and receives storage information according to a storage protocol.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the adapter is configured to handle Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCOE) traffic.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting if the configuration has changed for the virtual adapter instance comprises receiving configuration information regarding a configuration change from an operating system that maintains the configuration information.

8. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium storing executable instructions, which when executed by a machine, causes the machine to perform a process for managing a virtual adapter instance associated with a physical adapter, the process comprising:

installing a virtual port driver manager, the virtual port driver manager being configured to manage installation and removal of virtual drivers as virtual adapter configurations are created, modified, updated or removed without a need to use legacy plug-n-play (PNP) modules;

configuring a PNP thread for detecting a change in configuration of the virtual adapter instance, wherein the PNP thread monitors virtual adapters and virtual adapter configurations;

the PNP thread detecting if the configuration has changed for the virtual adapter instance, at any given time;

the PNP thread comparing a changed configuration with a previous configuration of the virtual adapter instance;

the virtual port driver manager installing a new virtual adapter instance, if new information is present in the changed configuration;

the virtual port driver manager uninstalling the virtual adapter instance, if information from the previous configuration was removed; and

the virtual port driver manager reinstalling a virtual adapter instance of an existing virtual adapter when the existing virtual adapter is modified.

9. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein a processor executing programmable instructions configures the (PNP) thread for detecting change in configuration.

10. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein a plurality of virtual adapter instances associated with the physical adapter are used by one or more computing systems to send and receive information via the physical adapter.

11. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the adapter sends and receives network information according to a network protocol.

12. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the adapter sends and receives storage information according to a storage protocol.

13. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the adapter is configured to handle Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCOE) traffic.

14. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein detecting if the configuration has changed for the virtual adapter instance comprises receiving configuration information regarding a configuration change from an operating system that maintains the configuration information.

15. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable instructions embodied therein for managing a virtual adapter instance, the computer readable instructions comprising:

instructions for installing a virtual port driver manager, the virtual port driver manager being configured to manage installation and removal of virtual drivers as virtual adapter configurations are created, modified, updated or removed without a need to use legacy plug-n-play (PNP) modules;

instructions for configuring a PNP thread for detecting a change in configuration of the virtual adapter instance, wherein the PNP thread monitors virtual adapters and virtual adapter configurations;

instructions for the PNP thread detecting if the configuration has changed for the virtual adapter instance, at any given time;

instructions for the PNP thread comparing a changed configuration with a previous configuration of the virtual adapter instance;

instructions for the virtual port driver manager installing a new virtual adapter instance, if new information is present in the changed configuration; and

instructions for the virtual port driver manager uninstalling the virtual adapter instance, if information from the previous configuration was removed; and

instructions for the virtual port driver manager reinstalling a virtual adapter instance of an existing virtual adapter when the existing virtual adapter is modified.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein a processor executing programmable instructions configures the PNP thread for detecting change in configuration.

17. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein a plurality of virtual adapter instances associated with the physical adapter are used by one or more computing systems to send and receive information via the physical adapter.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the adapter sends and receives network information according to a network protocol.

19. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the adapter sends and receives storage information according to a storage protocol.

20. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the adapter is configured to handle Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCOE) traffic.

21. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein detecting if the configuration has changed for the virtual adapter instance comprises receiving configuration information regarding a configuration change from an operating system that maintains the configuration information.