TRUNKING FOR FABRIC PORTS IN FIBRE CHANNEL SWITCHES AND ATTACHED DEVICES
First Claim
1. A trunking N_Port for a Fibre Channel node, the trunking N_Port comprising:
- a physical N_Port interface designed or configured to provide functionality of a non-trunking N_Port when virtual Storage Area Network (VSAN) functionality is not available; and
a controller for managing trunking on the trunking N_Port, wherein the controller is designed or configured to communicate with an F_Port on a Fibre Channel switch and determine whether VSAN functionality is available and if so define one or more VSAN interfaces on the trunking N_Port, with each of the VSAN interfaces providing the functionality of an N_Port for a single VSAN.
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Accused Products
Abstract
N_Ports and F_Ports are provided with logic allowing designation of multiple virtual interfaces on a single host bus adaptor or other Fibre Channel interface, one virtual interface for each VSAN operating on the node interface. Node ports with this additional functionality are referred to as trunking N_Ports or TN_Ports. These ports have a functional design allowing creation of the multiple virtual interfaces as appropriate for the application at hand. This port design also includes logic for communicating with a peer fabric port to initialize and modify the configuration of the virtual interfaces on the TN_Port. A corresponding functional design and communication logic is provided for fabric ports, referred to herein as trunking F_Ports or TF_Ports.
105 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A trunking N_Port for a Fibre Channel node, the trunking N_Port comprising:
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a physical N_Port interface designed or configured to provide functionality of a non-trunking N_Port when virtual Storage Area Network (VSAN) functionality is not available; and a controller for managing trunking on the trunking N_Port, wherein the controller is designed or configured to communicate with an F_Port on a Fibre Channel switch and determine whether VSAN functionality is available and if so define one or more VSAN interfaces on the trunking N_Port, with each of the VSAN interfaces providing the functionality of an N_Port for a single VSAN. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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- 10. A trunking N_Port or F_Port for a Fibre Channel device, the trunking N_Port or F_Port comprising a controller for managing trunking on the trunking N_Port or F_Port, wherein the controller is designed or configured to communicate with a peer port over a Fibre Channel link and determine whether virtual Storage Area Network (VSAN) functionality is available and if so define one or more VSAN interfaces on the trunking N_Port or F_Port, with each of the VSAN interfaces providing the functionality of a single VSAN.
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13. A storage area network comprising:
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(a) two or more nodes, each comprising a trunking N_Port coupled to a Fibre Channel link; and (b) one or more Fibre Channel switches comprising multiple F_Ports in communication with the trunking N_Ports and defining a fabric allowing communication among the two or more nodes, wherein the trunking N_Ports comprise controllers designed or configured to communicate with F_Ports on a Fibre Channel switch and determine whether virtual Storage Area Network (VSAN) functionality is available and if so define one or more VSAN interfaces on their trunking N_Ports, with each of the VSAN interfaces providing the functionality of an N_Port for a single VSAN. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method of establishing a link between a trunking N_Port on a node and an F_Port on a Fibre Channel switch, the method comprising:
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(a) determining whether virtual Storage Area Network (VSAN) functionality exists on the F_Port; and (b) defining one or more VSAN interfaces on the trunking N_Port, with each of the VSAN interfaces providing the functionality of an N_Port for a single VSAN. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer program product comprising a machine readable medium on which is provided program instructions for establishing a link between a trunking N_Port on a node and an F_Port on a Fibre Channel switch, wherein the program instructions comprise:
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(a) code for determining whether virtual Storage Area Network (VSAN) functionality exists on the F_Port; and (b) code for defining one or more VSAN interfaces on the trunking N_Port, with each of the VSAN interfaces providing the functionality of an N_Port for a single VSAN. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A trunking N_Port for a Fibre Channel node, the trunking N_Port comprising:
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(a) means for determining whether virtual Storage Area Network (VSAN) functionality exists on a F_Port to which the trunking N_Port is linked; and (b) means for defining one or more VSAN interfaces on the trunking N_Port, with each of the VSAN interfaces providing the functionality of an N_Port for a single VSAN. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification