Design, modeling, simulation, circuit design, and proof-of-concept for transporting PCI data over Ethernet

Internet PCI (i-PCI) is presented as a new protocol for virtualization of a host computer's I/O system via high-speed networking. The i-PCI protocol focuses on extending an I/O system architecture based on PCI Express and involves encapsulation of the PCI Express packets within IP routing and Ethernet packets.;The basic architecture of i-PCI is described. The i-PCI protocol encompasses extension of the host computer bus via an Internet Protocol (IP) network, an Ethernet link, or Direct Connect (DC) Ethernet physical layer link. The i-PCI protocol allows functions or adapter cards to be located remote from host systems via any one of the three implementation options, yet appear as local bus resource.;The major issues for PCI Express virtualization and expansion are identified. The protocol architecture is described in detail. Data transport, flow control, quality of service, and error detection for i-PCI are addressed specifically. Although the i-PCI protocol encompasses IP networks as one of the three implementation options (this implementation is presented at length) the focus of the dissertation is specifically on the Ethernet implementations as a first proof-of-concept for i-PCI.;Modeling and simulation of the encapsulation of PCI Express Transaction Layer Packets within Ethernet frames is conducted. The major interface and processing blocks required are reviewed, queuing analysis performed, and then validated by a hierarchical coupled model developed in Matlab Simulink. An experimental framework that includes a packet generator component model is developed to generate representative PCI Express traffic. Simulation is performed and data throughput performance analysis is conducted.