FCoE Frame Forwarding via L3 IP Tables
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional non-FCoE-enabled switching systems have limited user-defined forwarding or routing table entries, restricting the size of the FCoE network fabric and making them impractical for transmitting FCoE communications.
Innovation Solution
A non-FCoE-enabled information handling system is developed, utilizing a processing system with modified routing instructions to leverage Layer 3 (L3) forwarding tables, allowing for the forwarding of FCoE frames by referencing standard IP frame locations within the FCoE frames, thereby expanding the FCoE network fabric size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If non-FCoE-enabled switch chips are used, then cost is reduced, but the number of forwarding table entries is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from Layer 2 forwarding (which has limited table entries) to Layer 3 forwarding by treating FCoE frames as IP frames. This dimensional shift from data link layer to network layer enables access to the much larger IP routing table, thereby increasing the number of available forwarding entries while using cost-effective non-FCoE switch chips.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes non-FCoE-enabled switch chips capable of handling FCoE frames by leveraging their existing IP forwarding capabilities. The FCoE frame is processed as if it were an IP frame, allowing the same hardware to perform both traditional Ethernet switching and FCoE forwarding without requiring specialized FCoE hardware.
2Ease of manufacture
If non-FCoE-enabled switching systems are used, then cost is reduced, but the size of the FCoE network fabric is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By moving from Layer 2 to Layer 3 forwarding, the patent expands the addressing space from the limited Layer 2 forwarding table to the extensive Layer 3 routing table. This enables significantly larger FCoE network fabrics to be supported using standard, cost-effective switch hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the forwarding parameter from Layer 2 MAC address-based forwarding to Layer 3 IP address-based forwarding. This parameter change allows the system to utilize the much larger IP address space, thereby expanding the possible size of the FCoE network fabric.
3Quantity of substance
If FCoE frames are forwarded using standard IP frame locations, then L3 forwarding tables can be utilized, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary mapping mechanism that translates FCoE frame fields into IP frame locations. The FCoE frame is processed as if it were an IP frame, with the FCoE destination identifier mapped to the IP destination address field. This intermediary mapping allows the system to leverage existing IP forwarding infrastructure while handling FCoE traffic.
Data Source
AI summary
An FCoE forwarding system includes a non-FCoE-enabled networking device coupled between a source device and an FC device and including a plurality of L3 forwarding tables. The non-FCoE-enabled networking device receives a first communication from the source device and determines that the first communication includes a first FCoE frame. The non-FCoE-enabled networking device then retrieves first data from a first standard IP frame location in the first FCoE frame, second data from a second standard IP frame location in the first FCoE frame, and third data from a third standard IP frame location in the first FCoE frame, and uses the first data to reference a first L3 forwarding table of the plurality of L3 forwarding tables. The first non-FCoE-enabled networking device then uses the first L3 forwarding table with the second data and the third data to forward the first FCoE frame on to the FC device.