Methd and system for using an in-line credit extender with a host bus adapter

• US 20060075161A1
• Filed: 10/01/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: QLogic Corporation (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Kunz, James A., Alston, Jerald K., Grijalva, Oscar J., Griffith, Eric R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,380,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/52
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/387 for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters for incompatible systems, open system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/39 Credit based
• 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 storage area network (“SAN”) and a system is provided. The SAN includes, a host bus adapter operationally coupled with a credit extender, wherein the credit extender receives frames from a Fibre Channel network and sends the received frames to the HBA based on buffer space available in the HBA. The HBA notifies other Fibre Channel ports of buffer space available in the credit extender. The HBA sends a signal to the credit extender notifying the credit extender of available buffer space in the HBA. The HBA includes a management port for interfacing the HBA with the credit extender.

Claims

1. A storage area network (“

SAN”

), comprising;

a host bus adapter operationally coupled with a credit extender, wherein the credit extender receives frames from a Fibre Channel network and sends the received frames to the HBA based on buffer space available in the HBA.

2. The SAN of claim 1, wherein the HBA notifies other Fibre Channel ports of buffer space available in the credit extender.

3. The SAN of claim 1, wherein the HBA sends a signal to the credit extender notifying the credit extender of available buffer space in the HBA.

4. The SAN of claim 1, wherein the credit extender notifies the HBA of an exception condition.

5. A system for transferring data in a Fibre Channel network, comprising:

a host bus adapter operationally coupled with a credit extender, wherein the credit extender receives frames from a Fibre Channel network and sends the received frames to the HBA based on buffer space available in the HBA.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the HBA notifies other Fibre Channel ports of buffer space available in the credit extender.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the HBA sends a signal to the credit extender notifying the credit extender of available buffer space in the HBA.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the credit extender notifies the HBA of an exception condition.

9. A host bus adapter (“

HBA”

), comprising;

a management port for interfacing the HBA with a credit extender, wherein the credit extender receives frames from a Fibre Channel network and sends the received frames to the HBA based on buffer space available in the HBA.

10. The HBA of claim 9, wherein the HBA notifies other Fibre Channel ports of buffer space available in the credit extender.

11. The HBA of claim 9, wherein the HBA sends a signal to the credit extender notifying the credit extender of available buffer space in the HBA.

12. The HBA of claim 9, wherein the credit extender notifies the HBA of an exception condition.