Crossroads Systems, Inc.

Brian R Smith

Geoffrey B Hoese

Robert A Reynolds

Neil T Wanamaker

A segmented fiber channel communications system includes a segmentation router, including a plurality of ports. Control instructions associated with the segmentation router establish the segmentation router as a master router by initializing each of at least a predetermined subset of the plurality of ports on a fiber channel arbitrated loop associated with the segmentation router. This causes the segmentation router to win the LISM process performed by the fiber channel arbitrated loop. Control instructions further includes instructions for transmitting LIPA, LIHA, and LISA frames to the fiber channel arbitrated loop from each of the ports. Transmission begins with LIPA frames having all but the LIPA frame range of address bits set to 1. This prevents other network loop ports attached to a router other than the master router from acquiring a duplicate address. The system then establishes a plurality of sub-loops each associated with a predetermined set of physical addresses.

System for segmenting a fibre channel arbitrated loop to a plurality of logical sub-loops using segmentation router as a master to cause the segmentation of physical addresses

A method and system for detecting and correcting error conditions on sequential devices in a private loop direct access fiber channel network respectively include the steps and instructions for determining the state of an exchange using an initiator and initiating an appropriate sequence level recovery using the initiator. The invention further includes determining whether a target response is overdue using a timer in conjunction with internal driver state information for indicating that packet information may have been lost. The invention further requests exchange and sequence state information from the target for determining the need for corrective action and takes the needed corrective action, such as resending sequence information, requesting that the target resend sequence information, or providing early indication to the ULP that an error has occurred.

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Round Rock, TX, United States of America

Brian R Smith