Method for remotely accessing service programs of a local processing system supporting multiple protocol stacks and multiple device drivers

摘要

A method is described for enabling one or more external processing systems to access service programs of the local processing system, the local processing system having an operating system kernel and supporting multiple protocol stacks and multiple hardware device drivers. The method begins by generating a master control structure for each compatible protocol stack and device driver supported in the local processing system. The hardware device drivers are then monitored for receipt, from an external processing system, of any requests to access the service programs. Upon receipt by a protocol stack/device driver pair of an access request for one of the service programs, the master control structure is cloned into a control structure (DCB) for that service program, the resulting service program control structure including control information to associate the service program with the protocol stack/device driver pair receiving the access request. Then, the method creates a virtual circuit representing a communication path between the external processing system, the protocol stack/device driver pair receiving the access request, and the service program. A control block (NCB) is then generated for each predetermined block of actual data to be communicated to and from the service program. The service program control structure and the virtual circuit are maintained while actual data is communicated between the service program, the protocol stack/device driver pair and the external processing system.