Method and apparatus for detecting and removing orphaned primitives in a fibre channel network

• US 20050013258A1
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: QLogic Corporation (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Wen, William J., Fike, John M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,453,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/253 using establishment or release of connections between ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/357 Fibre channel switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/557 Error correction, e.g. fault recovery or fault tolerance

Abstract

A method and system for detecting orphaned CLS primitives in a fibre channel network having a fibre channel switch element coupled to an arbitrated loop is provided. The method includes, sending an OPN primitive to a switch element port'"'"'s own AL_PA to open a connection with itself; and determining if a CLS primitive is received within a loop a latency period. If a CLS primitive is received within the latency period then the CLS primitive is classified as an orphan and the orphaned CLS primitive is removed by the switch element by enabling a firmware based removal feature. The switch element includes a port that arbitrates for the arbitrated loop ownership and sends an OPN primitive to its own AL_PA.

Claims

1. A method for detecting orphaned CLS primitives in a fibre channel network having a fibre channel switch element coupled to an arbitrated loop, comprising:

sending an OPN primitive to a switch element port'"'"'s own AL_PA to open a connection with itself; and

determining if a CLS primitive is received within a loop a latency period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein if a CLS primitive is received within the latency period then the CLS primitive is classified as an orphan.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the orphaned CLS primitive is removed by the switch element by enabling a firmware based removal feature.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein by removing the CLS primitive traffic disruption is minimized.

5. A method for removing orphaned CLS primitives in a fibre channel network having a switch element coupled to an arbitrated loop, comprising:

detecting an orphaned CLS primitive;

enabling a remove CLS primitive feature;

replacing the orphaned CLS primitive with a Current Fill Word.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a switch element port'"'"'s sends an OPN primitive to itself;

and if a CLS primitive is received within a loop a latency period it is classified as an orphan.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the orphaned CLS primitive is removed by the switch element by enabling a firmware based removal feature.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein by removing the CLS primitive traffic disruption is minimized.

9. A switch element coupled to an arbitrated loop in a fibre channel network, comprising:

a port that arbitrates for the arbitrated loop ownership and sends an OPN primitive to its own AL_PA; and

if the port receives a CLS primitive within a certain latency period then the CLS primitive is classified as an orphan.

10. The switch element of claim 9, wherein a remove CLS primitive feature is enabled by firmware of the switch element and the orphan CLS primitive is replaced by a current fill word.

11. The switch element of claim 9, wherein the port inhibits sending a response to the orphan CLS primitive.

12. A fibre channel based network, comprising:

a switch element coupled to an arbitrated loop, wherein the switch element includes a port that arbitrates for the arbitrated loop ownership and sends an OPN primitive to its own AL_PA; and

if the port receives a CLS primitive within a certain latency period then the CLS primitive is classified as an orphan.

13. The switch element of claim 12, wherein a remove CLS primitive feature is enabled by firmware of the switch element and the orphan CLS primitive is replaced by a current fill word.

14. The switch element of claim 12, wherein the port inhibits sending a response to the orphan CLS primitive.