60 results about "Fibre Channel over Ethernet" patented technology

A Data Center Ethernet (“DCE”) network and related methods and device are provided. A DCE network simplifies the connectivity of data centers and provides a high bandwidth, low latency network for carrying Ethernet, storage and other traffic. A Fibre Channel (“FC”) frame, including FC addressing information, is encapsulated in an Ethernet frame for transmission on a Data Center Ethernet (“DCE”) network. The Ethernet address fields may indicate that the frame includes an FC frame, e.g., by the use of a predetermined Organization Unique Identifier (“OUI”) code in the D_MAC field, but also include Ethernet addressing information. Accordingly, the encapsulated frames can be forwarded properly by switches in the DCE network whether or not these switches are configured for operation according to the FC protocol. Accordingly, only a subset of Ethernet switches in the DCE network needs to be FC-enabled. Only switches so configured will require an FC Domain_ID.

Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for creating virtual links between Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) nodes. FIP Discovery Advertisement frames are received from multiple FCoE device interconnection apparatus (FIA). The FIP Discovery Advertisement frames comprises source Ethernet MAC addresses, a destination Ethernet MAC address of All-ENode-MACs, Fabric FIP descriptor, and a Priority FIP descriptor. A list is stored of one or more of the source Ethernet MAC address, FIP Priority descriptor, and FIP Fabric descriptor for each unique FIP Discovery Advertisement frame received as indicated by the Fabric descriptor. The Name Server is queried for each source Ethernet MAC address in said storage. For all FCoE devices that match in more that one Name Server, connect to those FCoE devices using the highest priority Ethernet MAC address from matching list items.

The use of Ethernet as an underlying transport for Fibre Channel (FC) frames is disclosed in the Fibre Channel Over Ethernet (FCOE) protocol. In FCOE, the FC physical layer and part of the FC-2 link layer are replaced with the Ethernet physical and link layers. Each FC frame is encapsulated within an Ethernet Frame. The payload of the FCOE frame contains type information from the FC Start Of Frame (SOF) indicator, the FC header, an optional FC payload, and type information from the FC End Of Frame (EOF) indicator. In one embodiment, an Ethernet network carrying FCOE replaces a standard FC network. In another embodiment, devices implementing FCOE may be implemented in a blade server. The entire backplane is Ethernet, over which both storage and networking traffic can be run. The Ethernet links are connected to an Ethernet switch, a FCOE/FC converter, and a FC switch.

The present invention provides methods and devices for implementing a Low Latency Ethernet (“LLE”) solution, also referred to herein as a Data Center Ethernet (“DCE”) solution, which simplifies the connectivity of data centers and provides a high bandwidth, low latency network for carrying Ethernet and storage traffic. Some aspects of the invention involve transforming FC frames into a format suitable for transport on an Ethernet. Some preferred implementations of the invention implement multiple virtual lanes (“VLs”) in a single physical connection of a data center or similar network. Some VLs are “drop” VLs, with Ethernet-like behavior, and others are “no-drop” lanes with FC-like behavior. Some preferred implementations of the invention provide guaranteed bandwidth based on credits and VL. Active buffer management allows for both high reliability and low latency while using small frame buffers. Preferably, the rules for active buffer management are different for drop and no drop VLs.

A method for detecting a switch failure and managing switch failover in a Fibre Channel over Ethernet network. The plurality of Fibre Channel over Ethernet switches are connected to an intermediary Ethernet switch and to each other via an Ethernet connection. The intermediary Ethernet switch is different from the plurality of Fibre Channel over Ethernet switches. A plurality of end polls are also connected to the intermediary Ethernet switch. A failure is detected in a first switch in the plurality of Fibre Channel over Ethernet switches. The first switch is associated with a first end port in the plurality of end ports. A failure notification is sent to the first end port using the intermediary Ethernet switch. The failure notification might specify a second switch destination and an identification of the first switch. A fabric login is exchanged between the first end port and the second switch.

Methods and apparatus for the Transporting of Fibre Channel data over Ethernet are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, Fibre Channel data frame and primitive signals are transported over Ethernet instead of using the Fibre Channel FC-1 and FC-0 protocols. This allows less expensive Ethernet equipment and devices to transport and perform services for Fibre Channel connected devices without having a physical Fibre Channel interface. The ability to provide Fibre Channel services and functions without having a physical Fibre Channel interface allows existing Ethernet equipment to be placed into service as SAN components without modification.

This is directed to providing Fibre Channel over Ethernet communication. For example a Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) enabled device (such as a computer) may include a Fibre Channel over Ethernet Adapter (FCoEA). The FCoEA may include an HBA module. The HBA module may be configured to communicate over the Fibre Channel protocol. The FCoE enabled device may process and encapsulate the HBA module's communication in order to send them over an Ethernet network instead. The FCoE enabled device may process communications directed to various Fibre Channel fabric services by utilizing existing Ethernet services, such as an iSNS server. Thus, the FCoE enabled device can emulate a Fibre Channel network for the HBA module using the Ethernet network and one or more Existing Ethernet services/servers.

Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for assigning Fibre Channel Domain identifiers with an iSNS Server, a Fibre Channel over Ethernet device interconnection apparatus controller (FIAC), and a Fibre Channel over Ethernet device interconnection apparatus (FIA). A Request Domain Identifier iSNS protocol message is sent from a FCoE device interconnection apparatus controller (FIAC) to a iSNS Server. A Fibre Channel Initialization Protocol (FIP) Fabric Login (FLOGI) frame is received from a Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) device by a FCoE device interconnection apparatus (FIA). The FIAC assigns a new Fibre Channel address identifier using the Domain Identifier assigned from the Request Domain Identifier response. At the FIAC, a FIP link service accept (LS_ACC) response is transmitted to the FIP FLOGI comprising the newly assigned Fibre Channel address identifier at the FIAC. At the FIA, the FIP LS_ACC is forwarded to the FCoE device that transmitted the FIP FLOGI frame.

Techniques are provided for performing discovery in a Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) network. An FCoE Node (ENode) discovers the FCoE Forwarders (FCFs) connected to its network segment by transmitting a solicitation message to the multicast MAC address “All-FCF-MACs”. All FCFs receive packets with this multicast MAC address including the solicitation message that announces the presence of the ENode. Each FCF replies with a unicast advertisement message that provides the ENode with a MAC address of the responding FCF. The ENode builds a list of the FCFs available on its network segment and may then establish a virtual link with one or more of the FCFs through a Fabric Login (FLOGI) exchange.

Techniques are provided for performing discovery in a Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) network. An FCF discovers other FCoE Forwarders (FCFs) connected to its network segment by transmitting a solicitation message to the multicast MAC address “All-FCF-MACs”. All FCFs receive packets with this multicast MAC address including the solicitation message that announces the presence of the FCF. Each FCF replies with a unicast advertisement message that provides the new FCF with a MAC address of the responding FCF. The FCF builds a list of the FCFs available on its network segment and may then establish a virtual link with one or more of the FCFs through an exchange link parameter (ELP) exchange.

Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for forwarding Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) frames over a Shortest Path Bridged network with a FCoE device interconnection apparatus (FIA). A FCoE frame is received from a FCoE device, the frame including at least destination Ethernet MAC address and source Ethernet MAC address fields. The destination Ethernet MAC address of the incoming frame is replaced with the MAC address of the remote FCoE device as determined by the Fibre Channel destination address identifier in the received FCoE frame. The source Ethernet MAC address of the incoming frame is replaced. The frame is encapsulated in a MAC header. The frame is forwarded to an egress FCoE device interconnection apparatus (FIA). Thereafter, the outer MAC header of the received frame is decapsulated into a FCoE frame. The decapsulated frame is forwarded to an attached FCoE device with the original destination and source Ethernet MAC addresses.

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for establishing a point-to-point connection using Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE). The point-to-point connection is established as part of the FCoE Initialization Protocol (FIP). A first computing device sends a FIP discovery solicitation to a predefined address such as ALL-FCF-MACs. The first computing device also listens to the local ALL-FCF-MACs address and determines whether or not there are any switches in the fabric connecting the first computing device and the second computing device. If there are no switches, the first computing device sends a second FIP discovery solicitation with a point-to-point indicator. If the first computing device receives a similar FIP discovery solicitation from the second computing device, it sends a FIP discovery advertisement with the point-to-point indicator. The first computing device and second computing device then perform fabric login and establish a point to point connection.

A system and method for transmitting packets over two different network protocols without protocol conversion in any switches. A computer system comprises host computers and target storage arrays, or targets, coupled to one another through a Enhanced Ethernet network. Each of the host computers and the targets is configured to transmit encapsulated packets, such as a Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) packet. During system configuration, each of the targets is set to be the only target included in a virtual local area network (VLAN) with a corresponding unique VLAN identifier (ID). A given host computer logins to multiple assigned targets using a predefined Fiber Channel protocol. In response to a login request, a corresponding target assigns and conveys a N_Port ID that comprises a VLAN ID and a unique Host ID to the host computer in a reply message. A virtual link is established between the host computer and the target storage array.

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for handling data being communicated over lossless Ethernet that is sensitive to delays. Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) is one example of an environment where data may be subject to unacceptable delays. The method involves designating certain data as low latency data that is sensitive to delays in transmission. The low latency data is then transmitted in such a manner that the receiving devices are aware that they are receiving low latency data. If a delay in the transmission of low latency is detected, commands are issued that pause or slow standard data in order to free up bandwidth for the low latency data. The commands may be, for example, backward congestion notifications and priority flow control. Low latency data is exempted from backward congestion notifications and priority flow control. Priority 7 priority group 15 may be reserved exclusively for low latency data.

Methods and apparatus for the Transporting of Fibre Channel data over Ethernet are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, Fibre Channel data frame and primitive signals are transported over Ethernet instead of using the Fibre Channel FC-1 and FC-0 protocols. This allows less expensive Ethernet equipment and devices to transport and perform services for Fibre Channel connected devices without having a physical Fibre Channel interface. The ability to provide Fibre Channel services and functions without having a physical Fibre Channel interface allows existing Ethernet equipment to be placed into service as SAN components without modification.

A network system has: a node performing transmission and reception of a frame based on FCoE (Fibre Channel Over Ethernet); a network; a controller performing management of the node and the network; and a gateway provided with respect to the node. The gateway determines whether a frame received from the node is a control frame or a data frame, forwards the control frame to the controller, and forwards the data frame to the network. The controller performs the management based on the control frame received from the gateway. The network transfers the data frame received from the gateway to a target node without through the controller. The controller comprises a flow management unit that manages a transfer route of the data frame in the network with respect to each flow.