Patent attributes
Methods and systems for facilitating an equitable bandwidth distribution across downstream devices in asymmetrical switch topologies, and in particular asymmetrical PCIe switch topologies. The equitable distribution of bandwidth is achieved in asymmetrical topologies using virtual switch partitioning. An upstream switch that is connected to the root complex via an upstream port and that receives bandwidth B from the upstream port, is virtualized into two or more virtual switches. Each virtual switch equally shares the bandwidth. Each virtual switch is allocated to downstream devices that are connected to the upstream switch as well as to one or more downstream switches that are connected to the upstream switch. Each downstream switch may be connected to one or more additional downstream devices.