Intel Corporation

Computer Network Technology Corporation

Other

Brocade Communication Systems LLC

James C Wright

Hugh Wilkinson

Harry V Paul

Anthony G Tornetta

Gregory L Koellner

Jason Workman

Larry Cantwell

Steven G Schmidt

Jereld W Pearson

Scott Carlsen

Govindaswamy Nallur

Henry G Gonzalez

Anthony G Tometta

Henry Q Gonzalez

Jerald W Pearson

Techniques for embedding fabric addressing information within Ethernet media access control (MAC) addresses is disclosed herein and allows a multi-node fabric having potentially millions of nodes to feature Ethernet encapsulation without the necessity of a lookup or map to translate MAC addresses to fabric-routable local identifiers (LIDs). In particular, a locally-administered MAC address may be encoded with fabric addressing information including a LID. Thus a node may exchange Ethernet packets using a multi-node fabric by encapsulating each Ethernet packet with a destination MAC address corresponding to an intended destination. As the destination MAC address may implicitly map to a LID of the multi-node fabric, the node may use an extracted LID value therefrom to address a fabric-routable packet. To this end, a node may introduce a fabric-routable packet encapsulating an Ethernet packet onto a multi-node fabric without necessarily performing a lookup to map a MAC address to a corresponding LID.

Techniques for embedding fabric address information into locally-administered ethernet media access control addresses (MACs) and a multi-node fabric system implementing the same

Techniques for embedding fabric address information into locally-administered Ethernet media access control addresses (MACs) and a multi-node fabric system implementing the same

Examples include techniques for virtual Ethernet switching of a multi-node fabric. In some examples, first Ethernet links coupled with a group of Ethernet gateways are link aggregated. The group of Ethernet gateways couple with respective individual physical switch ports of a fabric switch of a multi-node fabric to form a default logical gateway to provide an uplink between a virtual Ethernet switch and an Ethernet network external to the multi-node fabric. Also, one or more individual Ethernet gateways coupled with respective individual physical switch ports of the fabric switch may be arranged to provide one or more respective downlinks between the virtual Ethernet switch and one or more Ethernet nodes external to the multi-node fabric via respective second Ethernet links coupled with the one or more individual Ethernet gateways.

Techniques for virtual Ethernet switching of a multi-node fabric

A routing module applies a plurality of routing rules simultaneously to determine routing for a Fibre Channel frame. Each rule independently determines whether the rule applies to the frame as well as a routing result for the frame. The routing result includes a port address, a zoning indicator, and a priority designation that can be used to route the frame over a virtual channel in an interswitch link. A selector chooses between the results returned by the rules. A component receives routing results specifying an ISL group and selects a physical ISL for the frame. An in-band priority determined by the content of the frame header can also be used in place of the priority designation in the routing result.

Rule based routing in a switch

A Fiber Channel switch is presented that tracks the congestion status of destination ports in an XOFF mask at each input. A mapping is maintained between virtual channels on an ISL and the destination ports to allow changes in the XOFF mask to trigger a primitive to an upstream port that provides virtual channel flow control. The XOFF mask is also used to avoid sending frames to a congested port. Instead, these frames are stored on a single deferred queue and later processed in a manner designed to maintain frame ordering. A routing system is provided that applies multiple routing rules in parallel to perform line speed routing. The preferred switch fabric is cell based, with techniques used to manage path maintenance for variable length frames and to adapt to varying transmission rates in the system. Finally, the switch allows data and microprocessor communication to share the same crossbar network.

Fibre channel switch

Fiber channel switch

A method of adapting a native ESCON director to provide fibre channel switching capability includes providing a fibre channel port adapter comprising one or more boards that can be installed into slots in a multi-protocol channel switch having a central switch; connecting said port adapter to a Fibre Channel device; wherein said method permits interconnection through said central switch, thereby allowing connection between and exchange of information between any two desired ports

Fibre channel port adapter

Apparatus for temporary containment of chemicals escaping from end members of a cylindrical container storing pressurized chemicals includes a plate, that can fit within the constricted walls of the ends of the cylinder and an inflatable tube around the edge of the plate. The tube, when inflated, will support the plate against the edges of the cylinder and contain the gas between the containment apparatus and the end members of the container. The repair device further includes a locking mechanism for positioning the plate with respect to threads of the cylinder and for preventing release of the plate in the event of deflation of the tube. A (CO.sub.2) pressurized gas capsule can be included to provide the pressure to expand the tubing. The plate can further include a valve for eventual release of the contained chemical at a convenient location.

Closure and method for repair of a pressurized container

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Sewell, NJ, United States of America

James C Wright