System and method for caching DRAM using an egress buffer

Abstract

A system and method includes a server that includes a processor and a memory system coupled that are coupled to a bus system. A network interface is coupled to the processor and an egress buffer is coupled to the processor and the network interface by an egress bus.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A server comprising: 
 a processor coupled to a bus system;    a memory system coupled to the bus system;    a network interface coupled to the processor; and    an egress buffer coupled to the processor and the network interface by an egress bus.    
     
     
         2 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the processor includes a plurality of processors.  
     
     
         3 . The server of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of processors are included on a first die.  
     
     
         4 . The server of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of processors are included on a plurality of dies.  
     
     
         5 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the egress buffer includes high speed random access memory.  
     
     
         6 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the egress buffer includes random access memory that has an operating speed of about 400 MHz.  
     
     
         7 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the egress buffer and the egress bus have a data throughput rate that is greater than or equal to about twice the amount of a data stream to be served.  
     
     
         8 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the egress buffer includes a double data rate buffer.  
     
     
         9 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the egress bus has a bandwidth that is greater than or equal to about twice the amount of a data stream to be served.  
     
     
         10 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the egress bus includes a 32-bit data bus.  
     
     
         11 . A method of serving data comprising: 
 receiving a request for data in a processor in a server;    retrieving the requested data;    processing the retrieved data in the processor;    storing the processed data in an egress buffer that is coupled to the processor and a network interface; and    serving the stored data from the egress buffer through the network interface.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the egress buffer that is coupled to the processor and the network interface by an egress bus.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the requested data includes a data stream.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the egress bus has a bandwidth of about twice a bandwidth of the data stream.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the egress bus includes a 32-bit data bus.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the processed data is stored in the egress buffer substantially simultaneously with the stored data being served from the egress buffer.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein processing the retrieved data in the processor includes at least one of a group consisting of formatting the data, encrypting the data, and decrypting the data.  
     
     
         18 . A method of serving a data stream comprising: 
 receiving a request for a data stream in a processor in a server;    retrieving the requested data stream;    processing the retrieved data stream in the processor;    storing the processed data stream in an egress buffer that is coupled to the processor and a network interface by an egress bus having a bandwidth that is greater than or equal to about twice the data stream; and    serving the stored data stream from the egress buffer through the network interface.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the data stream includes at least one of a group consisting of audio and video.