Patent attributes
A hardware switch for use with hypervisors and blade servers is disclosed. The hardware switch enables switching to occur between different guest OSs running in the same server, or between different servers in a multi-root IOV system, or between different guest OSs running in the same server in single-root IOV systems. Whether embedded in a host bus adapter (HBA), converged network adapter (CNA), network interface card (NIC) or other similar device, the hardware switch can provide fast switching with access to and sharing of at least one external network port such as a Fibre Channel (FC) port, 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10 GbE) port, FC over Ethernet (FCoE) port, or other similar port. The hardware switch can be utilized when no hypervisor is present or when one or more servers have hypervisors, because it allows for switching (e.g. Ethernet switching) between the OSs on a single hypervisor.
