Network adaptor configured for connection establishment offload

Abstract

Coupling circuitry (such as an intelligent network adaptor) couples a network to a host. The host is executing an operating system and is configured for transfer of data between the host and at least one peer via the network using at least one stateful connection to a peer according to a connection-oriented protocol. Indications of attempts to establish stateful connections with a host are received. The coupling circuitry processes each of the received indications by attempting to establish a stateful connection to a peer indicated by that connection establishment attempt indication such that, for a genuine attempt by a peer to establish a stateful connection with the host, the coupling circuitry interoperates with the peer to perform establishment-phase protocol processing of the attempted stateful connection. For each of the established stateful connections, the coupling circuitry operates to cause a state of that established stateful connection to be provided from the coupling circuitry to the host, wherein the operating system of the host handles data transfer phase protocol processing of that established stateful connection.