Soft zoning of virtual local area networks in a fibre channel fabric

• US 10,333,866 B1
• Filed: 10/21/2016
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Konchada, Chandra Mohan, Shirol, Kiran Sangappa, Willeke, Jesse
• Primary Examiner(s): Swearingen, Jeffrey R
• Application Number:
  US15/299,756
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/357 Fibre channel switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A network where FC and Ethernet storage traffic share the underlying network. The network extends FC SAN storage specific attributes to Ethernet storage devices. The network is preferably formed of FC switches, so each edge switch acts as an FCoE FCF, with internal communications done using FC. IP packets are encapsulated in FC packets for transport. Preferably, either each outward facing switch port can be configured as an Ethernet or FC port, so devices can be connected as desired. FCoE devices connected to the network are in particular virtual LANs (VLANs). The name server database is extended to include VLAN information for the device and the zoning database has automatic FCOE_VLAN zones added to provide a mechanism for enhanced soft and hard zoning. Zoning is performed with the conventional zoning restrictions enhanced by including the factor that any FCoE devices must be in the same VLAN.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

accessing a database including at least two types of zones present in a fabric, a first type zone specifying devices by Fibre Channel parameters and a second type zone specifying devices by an Ethernet parameter and Fibre Channel parameters, where devices can be coupled to the fabric using either Fibre Channel or Ethernet connections, each zone including at least one device as a member of the zone; and

responsive to the zones accessed from the database, restricting communications between the devices coupled to the fabric;

wherein the step of restricting communications between the devices includes, responsive to a first device querying for an address of a second device, returning the address of the second device only if the first and second device are members of a common first type zone and if both devices are coupled to the fabric using an Ethernet connection, that both devices are members of a common second type zone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device queries the fabric for a list of addresses of other devices coupled to the fabric.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the Ethernet parameter is a virtual local area network value.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein returning the address of the second device only if the first and second device are members of a common first type zone and if both devices are coupled to the fabric using an Ethernet connection, that both devices are members of a common second type zone is performed using a zoning database.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein returning the address of the second device only if the first and second device are members of a common first type zone and if both devices are coupled to the fabric using an Ethernet connection, that both devices are members of a common second type zone is further performed using a name server database.

6. A switch comprising:

a plurality of ports, each port adapted to be coupled to a device by a serial connection;

a storage medium for storing a database including at least two types of zones present in a fabric, a first type zone specifying devices by Fibre Channel parameters and a second type zone specifying devices by an Ethernet parameter and Fibre Channel parameters, where devices can be coupled to the fabric using either Fibre Channel or Ethernet connections, each zone including at least one device as a member of the zone; and

a logic device coupled to the plurality of ports and to the storage medium, for, responsive to the zones accessed from the database, restricting communications for devices coupled to the plurality of ports,

wherein the logic device includes a name server for, responsive to a first device querying for an address of a second device, returning the address of the second device only if the first and second device are members of a common first type zone and if both devices are coupled using an Ethernet connection, that both devices are members of a common second type zone.

7. The switch of claim 6, wherein the first device queries the fabric for a list of addresses of other devices coupled to the first fabric.

8. The switch of claim 6, wherein returning the address of the second device only if the first and second device are members of a common first type zone and if both devices are coupled to the fabric using an Ethernet connection, that both devices are members of a common second type zone is performed using a zoning database.

9. The switch of claim 8, wherein returning the address of the second device only if the first and second device are members of a common first type zone and if both devices are coupled to the fabric using an Ethernet connection, that both devices are members of a common second type zone is further performed using a name server database.

10. A switch comprising:

a port for receiving an address information query from a first external device coupled to a fabric, the fabric coupling a plurality of external devices by either Fibre Channel or Ethernet connections;

a storage medium for storing a database including at least two types of zones, a first type zone specifying devices by Fibre Channel parameters and a second type zone specifying devices by an Ethernet parameter and Fibre Channel parameters; and

a name server coupled to the port and the storage medium for responding to the address information query with external devices address information only for external devices which are in a common first type zone with the first external device and if the first external device and the other external device are coupled to the fabric using an Ethernet connection, that both devices are members of a common second type zone.

11. The switch of claim 10, wherein the Ethernet parameter is a virtual local area network value.

12. The switch of claim 10, wherein the name server includes:

a CPU module; and

software executing on the CPU module to provide the name server functionality.

13. The switch of claim 10, wherein responding to the address information query with external devices address information only for external devices which are in a common first type zone with the first external device and if the first external device and the other external device are coupled to the fabric using an Ethernet connection, that both devices are members of a common second type zone is performed using a zoning database.

14. The switch of claim 13, wherein responding to the address information query with external devices address information only for external devices which are in a common first type zone with the first external device and if the first external device and the other external device are coupled to the fabric using an Ethernet connection, that both devices are members of a common second type zone is further performed using a name server database.

15. A network comprising:

a plurality of external devices; and

a fabric coupling the plurality of external devices, where the external devices query for address information when coupled to the fabric, wherein the fabric includes;

a port for receiving an address information query from a first external device;

a storage medium for storing a database including at least two types of zones, a first type zone specifying devices by Fibre Channel parameters and a second type zone specifying devices by an Ethernet parameter and Fibre Channel parameters; and

a name server coupled to the port and the storage medium for responding to the address information query with external devices address information only for external devices which are in a common first type zone with the first external device and if the first external device and the other external device are coupled to the fabric using an Ethernet connection, that both devices are members of a common second type zone.

16. The network of claim 15, wherein the Ethernet parameter is a virtual local area network value.

17. The network of claim 15, wherein responding to the address information query with external devices address information only for external devices which are in a common first type zone with the first external device and if the first external device and the other external device are coupled to the fabric using an Ethernet connection, that both devices are members of a common second type zone is performed using a zoning database.

18. The network of claim 17, wherein responding to the address information query with external devices address information only for external devices which are in a common first type zone with the first external device and if the first external device and the other external device are coupled to the fabric using an Ethernet connection, that both devices are members of a common second type zone is further performed using a name server database.