Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.

Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Polycom, Inc.

Brocade Communciations Systems, Inc.

David C Banks

Jieming Zhu

Paul Ramsay

Kreg A Martin

Kha Sin Teow

Kumar Malavalli

Shunjia Yu

Bent Stoevhase

Tai Quan

John C Schell

Steven L Farnworth

Teshager Tesfaye

Kin M Ho

Ding-Long Wu

Ding Long Wu

Drew George Doblar

Richard L Hammons

Ronald K Kreuzenstein

Vincent W Guan

Alex Wang

Eric R Griffith

Matthew J Tedone

Kenneth A Schmahl

Jeffery Stai

Kevan K Kwong

A large port count Fiber Channel switch. The large port count switch comprises multiple small switches. Inter-Switch links connect the small switches within the large port count switch. A set of routing rules governs the path data follows through the large port count switch.

Topology for large port count switch

In a system comprising a first fabric and a plurality of devices coupled to the fabric by Fiber Channel connections, the devices are logically grouped to form configurations and zones. A configuration includes at least one zone, and each zone includes at least one device as a member of the zone. Communications between the devices is restricted according to the configuration currently in effect. For example, one device may be permitted to communicate with another device only if they are members of a common zone.

Node device cooperating with switch which implements zones in a fibre channel system

In a system comprising a first fabric and a plurality of devices coupled to the fabric by Fibre Channel connections, the devices are logically grouped to form configurations and zones. A configuration includes at least one zone, and each zone includes at least one device as a member of the zone. Communications between the devices is restricted according to the configuration currently in effect. For example, one device may be permitted to communicate with another device only if they are members of a common zone.

In a communication network system having a multi-switch Fiber Channel fabric, adjacent switches are communicatively coupled together by a plurality of links. The links are selectively determined to join a trunked group for enabling frames received at one switch to be routed over the links in the trunked group to the adjacent switch in an evenly distributed manner. In one embodiment, a link within the trunked group is coupled to a pair of ports residing on adjacent switches each having a designated trunking master port. The traffic load at one switch is routed through the trunking master port which distributes the load across multiple links and guarantees that the load is received at the adjacent switch with 'in-order' delivery.

Link trunking and measuring link latency in fibre channel fabric

The present invention provides a system and a method for filtering a plurality of frames sent between devices coupled to a fabric by Fiber Channel connections. Frames are reviewed against a set of individual frame filters. Each frame filter is associated with an action, and actions selected by filter matches are prioritized. Groups of devices are 'zoned' together and frame filtering ensures that restrictions placed upon communications between devices within the same zone are enforced. Zone group filtering is also used to prevent devices not within the same zone from communicating. Zoning may also be used to create LUN-level zones, protocol zones, and access control zones. In addition, individual frame filters may be created that reference selected portions of frame header or frame payload fields.

Fibre channel zoning by logical unit number in hardware

The present invention provides a system and a method for filtering a plurality of frames sent between devices coupled to a fabric by Fiber Channel connections. Frames are reviewed against a set of individual frame filters. Each frame filter is associated with an action, and actions selected by filter matches are prioritized. Groups of devices are 'zoned' together and frame filtering ensures that restrictions placed upon communications between devices within the same zone are enforced. Zone group filtering is also used to prevent devices not within the same zone from communicating. Zoning may also be used to create LUN-level and extent-level zones, protocol zones, and access control zones. In addition, individual frame filters may be created that reference selected portions of frame header or frame payload fields.

Extent-based fibre channel zoning in hardware

A method that utilizes virtual channels and a common pool of credits, controlled by a transmitter to maximize the throughput across an Inter-Switch Link in a Fibre Channel network. Each virtual channel is allocated a minimum number of credits and the remaining credits of the ISL are held in a common pool. When needs arise, the credits in the pool will be allocated or reallocated to make the best use dynamically by the transmitter.

Credit sharing for fibre channel links with multiple virtual channels

A system and method for retrieving multi-speed data streams is described. The data streams are stored within a central memory containing a plurality of memory modules. A first embodiment provides for creating multiple timeslots and segments for accessing a memory module within the central memory. A second embodiment provides for buffering data streams to equalize the rate at which all the data streams are stored and retrieved from the central memory. An implementation of the second embodiment is described where unused timeslots are allocated for sending data from a memory module to a transmitting port.

System and method for storing and retrieving multi-speed data streams within a network switch

Method and system for creating and implementing zones within a fibre channel system

Virtual channels are used to improve quality of service through a large port count switch. Data frames are sent from one small switch to another small switch within the large port count switch on virtual channels. The use of virtual channels helps prevent congestion caused by a first external source device sending data to a first external destination device from affecting a second external source device sending data to a second external destination device.

Quality of service using virtual channel translation

The present invention provides a system and a method for filtering a plurality of frames sent between devices coupled to a fabric by Fibre Channel connections. Frames are reviewed against a set of individual frame filters. Each frame filter is associated with an action, and actions selected by filter matches are prioritized. Groups of devices are 'zoned' together and frame filtering ensures that restrictions placed upon communications between devices within the same zone are enforced. Zone group filtering is also used to prevent devices not within the same zone from communicating. Zoning may also be used to create LUN-level zones, protocol zones, and access control zones. In addition, individual frame filters may be created that reference selected portions of frame header or frame payload fields.

Fibre channel zoning by device name in hardware

Frame filtering of fibre channel packets

A link level flow control technique implements a 'pull frame' transmission model in a Fibre Channel network. In one embodiment, frames remain in a first Fibre Channel device until they are requested by a second Fibre Channel device, wherein the second Fibre Channel device does not issue a request unless conditions are such that it can immediately transmit the frame toward its target destination. In another embodiment, a Fibre Channel device provides hardware messaging capability to support the pull model. In yet another embodiment, multiple Fibre Channel devices in accordance with the invention may be coupled to provide high port-count Fibre Channel switches.

Frame-pull flow control in a fibre channel network

In a system comprising a first fabric and a plurality of devices coupled to the fabric by fiber channel connections, the devices are logically grouped to form configurations and zones. A configuration includes at least one zone, and each zone includes at least one device as a member of the zone. Communications between the devices is restricted according to the configuration currently in effect. For example, one device may be permitted to communicate with another device only if they are members of a common zone.

Growing community of inventors

Pleasanton, CA, United States of America

David C Banks