Patent attributes
A computing device includes a system-on-a-chip. The computing device comprises a network interface controller (NIC) that hosts a plurality of virtual functions and physical functions. Two or more compute nodes are coupled to the NIC. Each compute node is configured to operate a plurality of Virtual Machines (VMs). Each VM is configured to operate in conjunction with a virtual function via a virtual function driver. A dedicated VM operates in conjunction with a virtual NIC using a physical function hosted by the NIC via a physical function driver hosted by the compute node. The computing device further comprises a fabric manager configured to own a physical function of the NIC, to bind virtual functions hosted by the NIC to individual compute nodes, and to pool I/O devices across the two or more compute nodes.