Virtualized PCI endpoint for extended systems
Virtualization of a PCI Endpoint via the Internet and LANs. The invention is a solution that allows the use of low-complexity, low-cost PCI Express Endpoint Type 0 cores or custom logic for relatively simple virtualization applications. The invention combines two physically separate assemblies in such a way that they appear to the host system as one local multifunctional PCI Express Endpoint device.
1. A system configured to virtualize a local bus function via the Internet and LANs.
2. The system as specified in claim 1 wherein the local bus is PCI or PCI Express.
3. The system as specified in claim 2 wherein the system is configured to encapsulate/un-encapsulate data packets of PCI or PCI Express.
4. The system as specified in claim 3 wherein there is no PCI/PCI bridge provided to virtualize the local bus.
5. The system as specified in claim 1 where there is no PCI/PCI bridge provided to virtualize the local bus.
6. The system as specified in claim 1 wherein the local bus function is a PCI Endpoint function.
7. The system as specified in claim 1 wherein the system comprises:
a local assembly configured to adapt the local bus to a network and implement a subset of PCI Endpoint functionality;
a virtualization protocol and transport configured to transport packets from the local assembly via the network;
at least one remote assembly configured to receive the packets and adapt the network to a subset of PCI Endpoint functionality;
wherein the local assembly and the at least one remote assembly together form a complete PCI Endpoint functionality.
8. The system as specified in claim 7 wherein the transport is defined by an Internet Protocol Suite.
9. The system as specified in claim 8 , wherein the transport is TCP/IP.
10. The system as specified in claim 7 , where the transport is a LAN.
11. The system as specified in claim 10 , wherein the LAN is an Ethernet.
12. The system as specified in claim 7 , wherein the transport is a direct connect arrangement configured to utilize an Ethernet physical layer as the transport, without consideration of a MAC hardware address or any interceding external Ethernet switch.
13. The system as specified in claim 7 , wherein the transport is a wireless transport and the local assembly and the at least one remote assembly include a radio platform.
14. The system as specified in claim 7 wherein the virtualization protocol is i-PCI.
15. The system as specified in claim 7 wherein the local assembly and remote assembly are configured to appear to the host system as one local multifunctional PCI Express Endpoint device.
16. The system as specified in claim 7 further comprising a plurality of remote assemblies each having an associated application, the associated applications configured to implement a single function.
17. The system as specified in claim 7 wherein a transaction layer and application layer associated with the Endpoint is located at the remote assembly.
18. The system as specified in claim 7 wherein the local assembly is an adapter card that is configured to not act on any transactions other than to present an PCI Express Endpoint port interface to a host system and accomplish data transport per the i-PCI specification.
19. The system as specified in claim 1 wherein the system comprises a PCI Express Endpoint Type 0 core.
20. The system as specified in claim 1 wherein the system is switchless.