Computer system, program product and method of communicating internetworking data over a master-slave communication link

Abstract

A computer system, program product, and method of communicating internetworking data over a master-slave communication link utilize a device driver in a workstation coupled to a multi-drop master-slave communication link to forward internetwork datagrams to the network interface of the workstation in a format defined by an internetworking protocol in response to receipt thereof of data segments transmitted over the master-slave communication link that are encapsulated in a header native to the multi-drop master-slave communication link. A host computer coupled to the workstation over the multi-drop master-slave communication link maps the hardware address of the workstation to a network address consistent with the internetworking protocol, and initiates a communication session with the workstation using this mapped network address so that the network interface of the workstation can recognize the network address as its assigned address. Subsequently, data transmissions to the workstation from the host encapsulate an internetworking datagram that has as its destination the workstation within a header that is native to the protocol of the multi-drop master-slave communication link, and that specifies the hardware address of the workstation, so that the underlying link interface hardware and/or software can recognize the encapsulated data segment as destined for the workstation.