Loading an Operating System of a Diskless Compute Node Using a Single Virtual Protocol Interconnect ('vpi') Adapter

1. A method comprising a computer processor and a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory including computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the steps of: setting during startup of the compute node, an operational mode of a VPI adapter to operate in accordance with a first data communications protocol, the VPI adapter is a data communication adapter including a preboot execution environment module located in memory of the VPI adapter that supports the first data communications protocol prior to loading an operating system and prior to loading a driver for the first data communications protocol; obtaining from a dynamic host control protocol (‘DHCP’) server, a network address and the driver for the first data communications protocol; and loading the driver for the first data communications protocol; retrieving from a network source via the VPI adapter in accordance with the first data communications protocol, the operating system and a driver for the second data communications protocol; loading the operating system and the driver for the second data communications protocol; and responsive to loading the operating system and the driver for the second data communications protocol, switching the operational mode of the VPI adapter to operate in accordance with the second data communications protocol.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first data communications protocol is an Ethernet protocol and the second data communications protocol is an Infiniband protocol.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the VPI adapter is coupled for data communications with the network source via a VPI switch.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the VPI adapter is coupled for data communications with a dynamic host control protocol (‘DHCP’) server via a VPI switch.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein switching the operational mode of the VPI adapter to operate in accordance with the second data communications protocol further comprises sending, to the VPI adapter, a value identifying the second data communications protocol.