US Patent 10303635 Remote host management using socket-direct network interface controllers

A network adapter includes one or more network ports, multiple bus interfaces, and a processor. The one or more network ports are configured to communicate with a communication network. The multiple bus interfaces are configured to communicate with multiple respective Central Processing Units (CPUs) that support a management protocol and belong to a multi-CPU device, and with a Baseboard Management Controller (BMC). The processor is configured to, in response to a request to enumerate the bus interfaces that support the management protocol, report support of the management protocol over only a single bus interface, selected from among the multiple bus interfaces connecting the network adapter to the multi-CPU device, and exchange management packets over the communication network between the BMC and a remote management computer, wherein the management packets manage the entire multi-CPU device but traverse only the single selected bus interface.