A method and architecture to write data between a source and destination by memory mapped writes or streaming packets between any of a host, a peripheral or a sub-peripheral device. A stream address is used to write the data to a memory of the destination without the source being aware of physical addresses of destination memory, i.e., memory descriptors or pointers are not used, allowing the destination to manage its own memory. The stream address may enable streaming data packets over interconnects that may not allow packet streaming by dividing a data packet into data chunks and including a stream address for each chunk. The stream address for a given packet includes a repeated first portion indicating the destination and a varied second portion indicating variable information for each data chunk such as start of packet (SoP) and end of packet (EoP) identifiers.

Systems and methods for limiting the rate of packet transmission from a NIC to a host CPU are provided. According to one embodiment, data packets are received from a network by the NIC. The NIC is coupled to a host central processing unit (CPU) of a network security device through a bus. A status of the host CPU is monitored by the NIC. A rate limiting mode indicator is set by the NIC based on the status. When the rate limiting mode indicator indicates rate limiting is inactive, then the received data packets are delivered or made available to the host CPU for processing. When the rate limiting mode indicator indicates rate limiting is active, then rate limiting is performing by temporarily stopping or slowing the delivery or making available of the received data packets to the host CPU for processing.

A method and architecture to write data between a source and destination by memory mapped writes or streaming packets between any of a host, a peripheral or a sub-peripheral device. A stream address is used to write the data to a memory of the destination without the source being aware of physical addresses of destination memory, i.e., memory descriptors or pointers are not used, allowing the destination to manage its own memory. The stream address may enable streaming data packets over interconnects that may not allow packet streaming by dividing a data packet into data chunks and including a stream address for each chunk. The stream address for a given packet includes a repeated first portion indicating the destination and a varied second portion indicating variable information for each data chunk such as start of packet (SoP) and end of packet (EoP) identifiers.

Systems and methods for limiting the rate of packet transmission from a NIC to a host CPU are provided. According to one embodiment, data packets are received from a network by the NIC. The NIC is coupled to a host central processing unit (CPU) of a network security device through a bus. A status of the host CPU is monitored by the NIC. A rate limiting mode indicator is set by the NIC based on the status. When the rate limiting mode indicator indicates rate limiting is inactive, then the received data packets are delivered or make available to the host CPU for processing. When the rate limiting mode indicator indicates rate limiting is active, then rate limiting is performing by temporarily stopping or slowing the delivery or making available of the received data packets to the host CPU for processing.

Systems and methods for limiting the rate of packet transmission from a NIC to a host CPU are provided. According to one embodiment, data packets are received from a network by the NIC. The NIC is coupled to a host central processing unit (CPU) of a network appliance through a bus system. A status of the host CPU is monitored by the NIC. A rate limiting mode indicator is set by the NIC based on the status. When the rate limiting mode indicator indicates rate limiting is inactive, then the received data packets are transmitted from the NIC to the host CPU for processing. When the rate limiting mode indicator indicates rate limiting is active, then rate limiting is performing by temporarily stopping or slowing transmission of the received data packets from the NIC to the host CPU for processing.