Method and system for creating and implementing zones in hardware within a fiber channel system

• US 6,980,525 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2002
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Teow, Kha Sin, Banks, David, Malavalli, Kumar, Ramsay, Paul, Zhu, Jieming
• Primary Examiner(s): Rao, Seema S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harper, Kevin C.
• Application Number:
  US10/059,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20020110125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/389, 370/392, 370400-406, 370254-255, 709/238, 709/242, 709/249, 709/223, 709/205, 359/109, 359/115, 359164-165
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/645 Fibre channel identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/354 for supporting virtual local area networks [VLAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/357 Fibre channel switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/65 Re-configuration of fast packet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4505 using standardised directories; using standardised directory access protocols

Abstract

In a system comprising a first fabric and a plurality of devices coupled to the fabric by fiber channel connections, the devices are logically grouped to form configurations and zones. A configuration includes at least one zone, and each zone includes at least one device as a member of the zone. Communications between the devices is restricted according to the configuration currently in effect. For example, one device may be permitted to communicate with another device only if they are members of a common zone.

Claims

1. In a system comprising a first fabric and a plurality of devices coupled to the first fabric by Fibre Channel connections, a method for logically organizing the devices comprising:

accessing a definition of a first configuration including at least one zone, each zone including at least one device as a member of the zone; and

responsive to the definition of the first configuration, restricting communications between the devices coupled to the first fabric,

wherein the step of restricting communications between the devices includes blocking communications from a first device to a second device if the first and second devices are not members of a common zone and

wherein the step of blocking communications from a first device to a second device includes;

accessing a bit in a bitmap, wherein the bit in the bitmap indicates whether the first device and the second device are members of a common zone; and

blocking communications from the first device to the second device if the bit indicates that the first device and the second device are not members of a common zone.

2. A fabric element for use in a system comprising a first fabric and a plurality of devices coupled to the first fabric by Fibre Channel connections, the fabric element comprising:

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

a storage medium for storing a definition of a first configuration including at least one zone, 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 definition of the first configuration, restricting communications for devices coupled to the plurality of ports,

wherein the logic device is further for blocking communications from a first device to a second device if the first and second devices are not members of a common zone and

wherein the logic device includes a bitmap having a plurality of bits, each bit indicating whether two of the devices coupled to the first fabric are members of a common zone.

3. A Fibre Channel device for use in a Fibre Channel fabric, the fabric coupling a plurality of external devices, the fabric configured into at least two zones, where the external devices are allowed to exchange data packets only with external devices in the same zone, the Fibre Channel device enforcing the zones in hardware, the Fibre Channel device comprising:

a source port for receiving data packets;

a destination port transmitting data packets; and

device logic connecting said source port and said destination port, wherein said device logic includes;

zoning data storage for storing configuration data indicative of the zone configuration of the fabric; and

a zoning check circuit connected to said zoning data storage and one of said source or destination port for screening the received data packet.

4. The Fibre Channel device of claim 3, wherein said zoning check circuit blocks transmission of the data packet.

5. The Fibre Channel device of claim 4, wherein said destination port does not transmit the data packet.

6. The Fibre Channel device of claim 4, wherein said source port does not transmit the data packet.

7. The Fibre Channel device of claim 3, wherein said zoning data storage and said zoning check circuit are included in said destination port.

8. The Fibre Channel device of claim 3, wherein the external devices are fabric-attached, loop-attached or a combination of fabric-attached and loop-attached.

9. The Fibre Channel device of claim 3, wherein said zoning check circuit includes a bitmap having a plurality of bits, each bit indicating whether two of the plurality of external devices are in the same zone.

10. A Fibre Channel switch for use in a Fibre Channel fabric, the fabric coupling a plurality of external devices, the fabric configured into at least two zones, where the external devices are allowed to exchange data packets only with external devices in the same zone, the Fibre Channel switch enforcing the zones in hardware, the Fibre Channel switch comprising:

a microprocessor;

local memory connected to said microprocessor; and

a Fibre Channel device connected to and controlled by said microprocessor, wherein said Fibre Channel device includes;

a source port for receiving data packets;

a destination port for transmitting data packets; and

device logic connecting said source port and said destination port, wherein said device logic includes;

zoning data storage for storing configuration data indicative of the zone configuration of the fabric; and

a zoning check circuit connected to said zoning data storage and one of said source or destination port for screening the received data packet.

11. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 10, wherein said zoning check circuit blocks the transmission of the data packet.

12. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 11, wherein said destination port does not transmit the data packet.

13. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 11, wherein said source port does not transmit the data packet.

14. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 10, wherein said zoning data storage and said zoning check circuit are included in said destination port.

15. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 10, wherein the external devices are fabric-attached, loop-attached or a combination of fabric-attached and loop-attached.

16. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 10, wherein said zoning check circuit includes a bitmap having a plurality of bits, each bit indicating whether two of the plurality of external devices are in the same zone.

17. A Fibre Channel fabric comprising:

a plurality of external devices;

a first Fibre Channel switch coupled to a first portion of said plurality of external devices; and

a second Fibre Channel switch coupled to a second portion of said plurality of external devices and coupled to said first Fibre Channel switch,

wherein the fabric is configured into at least two zones, where said external devices are allowed to exchange data packets only with external devices in the same zone and wherein said first and second Fibre Channel switches enforce the zones in hardware, each of said first and second Fibre Channel switches including;

a microprocessor;

local memory connected to said microprocessor; and

a Fibre Channel device connected to and controlled by said microprocessor, wherein said Fibre Channel device includes;

a source port for receiving data packets;

a destination port for transmitting data packets; and

device logic connecting said source port and said destination port, wherein said device logic includes;

zoning data storage for storing configuration data indicative of the zone configuration of the fabric; and

a zoning check circuit connected to said zoning data storage and one of said source or destination port for screening the received data packet.

18. The Fibre Channel fabric of claim 17, wherein said zoning check circuit blocks the transmission of the data packet.

19. The Fibre Channel fabric of claim 18, wherein said destination port does not transmit the data packet.

20. The Fibre Channel fabric of claim 18, wherein said source port does not transmit the data packet.

21. The Fibre Channel fabric of claim 17, wherein said zoning data storage and said zoning check circuit are included in said destination port.

22. The Fibre Channel fabric of claim 17, wherein said external devices are fabric-attached, loop-attached or a combination of fabric-attached and loop-attached.

23. The Fibre Channel fabric of claim 17, 2h343 in said zoning check circuit includes a bitmap having a plurality of bits, each bit indicating whether two of the plurality of external devices are in the same zone.

24. A Fibre Channel device for use in a Fibre Channel fabric, the fabric coupling a plurality of external devices, the fabric configured into at least two zones, where the external devices are allowed to exchange data packets only with external devices in the same zone, the Fibre Channel device comprising:

a source port for receiving data packets;

a destination port transmitting data packets; and

device hardware circuitry connecting said source port and said destination port, wherein said device hardware circuitry includes;

zoning data storage for storing configuration data indicative of the zone configuration of the fabric; and

a zoning check circuit connected to said zoning data storage and one of said source or destination port for screening the received data packet.

25. The Fibre Channel device of claim 24, wherein said zoning check circuit blocks transmission of the data packet.

26. The Fibre Channel device of claim 25, wherein said destination port does not transmit the data packet.

27. The Fibre Channel device of claim 25, wherein said source port does not transmit the data packet.

28. The Fibre Channel device of claim 24, wherein said zoning data storage and said zoning check circuit are included in said destination port.

29. The Fibre Channel device of claim 24, wherein the external devices are fabric-attached, loop-attached or a combination of fabric-attached and loop-attached.

30. The Fibre Channel device of claim 24, wherein said zoning check circuit includes a bitmap having a plurality of bits, each bit indicating whether two of the plurality of external devices are in the same zone.

31. A Fibre Channel switch for use in a Fibre Channel fabric, the fabric coupling a plurality of external devices, the fabric configured into at least two zones, where the external devices are allowed to exchange data packets only with external devices in the same zone, the Fibre Channel switch comprising:

a microprocessor;

local memory connected to said microprocessor; and

a Fibre Channel device connected to and controlled by said microprocessor, wherein said Fibre Channel device includes;

a source port for receiving data packets;

a destination port for transmitting data packets; and

device hardware circuitry connecting said source port and said destination port, wherein said device hardware circuitry includes;

zoning data storage for storing configuration data indicative of the zone configuration of the fabric; and

a zoning check circuit connected to said zoning data storage and one of said source or destination port for screening the received data packet.

32. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 31, wherein said zoning check circuit blocks the transmission of the data packet.

33. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 32, wherein said destination port does not transmit the data packet.

34. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 32, wherein said source port does not transmit the data packet.

35. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 31, wherein said zoning data storage and said zoning check circuit are included in said destination port.

36. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 31, wherein the external devices are fabric-attached, loop-attached or a combination of fabric-attached and loop-attached.

37. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 31, wherein said zoning check circuit includes a bitmap having a plurality of bits, each bit indicating whether two of the plurality of external devices are in the same zone.

38. A Fibre Channel fabric comprising:

a plurality of external devices;

a first Fibre Channel switch coupled to a first portion of said plurality of external devices; and

a second Fibre Channel switch coupled to a second portion of said plurality of external devices and coupled to said first Fibre Channel switch,

wherein the fabric is configured into at least two zones and where said external devices are allowed to exchange data packets only with external devices in the same zone, each of said first and second Fibre Channel switches including;

a microprocessor;

local memory connected to said microprocessor; and

a Fibre Channel device connected to and controlled by said microprocessor, wherein said Fibre Channel device includes;

a source port for receiving data packets;

a destination port for transmitting data packets; and

device hardware circuitry connecting said source port and said destination port, wherein said device hardware circuitry includes;

zoning data storage storing configuration data indicative of the zone configuration of the fabric; and

a zoning check circuit connected to said zoning data storage and one of said source or destination port for screening the received data packet.

39. The Fibre Channel fabric of claim 38, wherein said zoning check circuit blocks the transmission of the data packet.

40. The Fibre Channel fabric of claim 39, wherein said destination port does not transmit the data packet.

41. The Fibre Channel fabric of claim 39, wherein said source port does not transmit the data packet.

42. The Fibre Channel fabric of claim 38, wherein said zoning data storage and said zoning check circuit are included in said destination port.

43. The Fibre Channel fabric of claim 38, wherein said external devices are fabric-attached, loop-attached or a combination of fabric-attached and loop-attached.

44. The Fibre Channel fabric of claim 38, wherein said zoning check circuit includes a bitmap having a plurality of bits, each bit indicating whether two of the plurality of external devices are in the same zone.

45. In a Fibre Channel device for use in a Fibre Channel fabric, the fabric coupling a plurality of external devices, the fabric configured into at least two zones, where the external devices are allowed to exchange data packets only with external devices in the same zone, the Fibre Channel device including a source port for receiving data packets;

a destination port transmitting data packets; and

device hardware circuitry connecting said source port and said destination port, wherein said device hardware circuitry includes zoning data storage and a zoning check circuit connected to said zoning data storage and one of said source or destination port, a method comprising;

receiving data packets at the source port;

storing configuration data indicative of the configuration of the fabric in the zoning data storage; and

screening the received data packets in the zoning check circuit based on the stored configuration data.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

blocking transmission of the data packet based on the screening of the data packet.

47. The method of claim 46 further comprising:

not transmitting the data packet from the destination port if the data packet transmission is blocked.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

not transmitting the data packet from the source port if the data packet transmission is blocked.

49. The method of claim 45, where said zoning check circuit includes a bitmap having a plurality of bits, each bit indicating whether two of the plurality of external devices are in the same zone.

50. A Fibre Channel device for use in a Fibre Channel fabric, the fabric coupling a plurality of external devices, the fabric configured into at least two zones, where the external devices are allowed to exchange data packets only with external devices in the same zone, the Fibre Channel device comprising:

a source port for receiving data packets;

a destination port transmitting data packets; and

device logic contained in said destination port and connecting said source port and said destination port, said device logic for storing configuration data indicative of the zone configuration of the fabric and for screening the received data packet.

51. The Fibre Channel device of claim 50, where said device logic blocks transmission of the data packet based on the screening of the received data packet.

52. The Fibre Channel device of claim 51, where said destination port does not transmit the data packet.

53. The Fibre Channel device of claim 50, wherein the external devices are fabric-attached, loop-attached or a combination of fabric-attached and loop-attached.

54. The Fibre Channel device of claim 50, wherein said device logic includes a bitmap having a plurality of bits, each bit indicating whether two of the plurality of external devices are in the same zone.

55. A Fibre Channel switch for use in a Fibre Channel fabric, the fabric coupling a plurality of external devices, the fabric configured into at least two zones, where the external devices are allowed to exchange data packets only with external devices in the same zone, the Fibre Channel switch comprising:

a microprocessor;

local memory connected to said microprocessor; and

a Fibre Channel device connected to and controlled by said microprocessor, wherein said Fibre Channel device includes;

a source port for receiving data packets;

a destination port for transmitting data packets; and

device logic contained in said destination port and connecting said source port and said destination port, said device logic for storing configuration data indicative of the zone configuration of the fabric and for screening the received data packet.

56. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 55, wherein said device logic blocks the transmission of the data packet based on the screening of the received data packet.

57. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 56, wherein said destination port does not transmit the data packet.

58. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 55, wherein the external devices are fabric-attached, loop-attached or a combination of fabric-attached and loop-attached.

59. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 55, wherein said device logic includes a bitmap having a plurality of bits, each bit indicating whether two of the plurality of external devices are in the same zone.

60. A Fibre Channel fabric comprising:

a plurality of external devices;

a first Fibre Channel switch coupled to a first portion of said plurality of external devices; and

a second Fibre Channel switch coupled to a second portion of said plurality of external devices and coupled to said first Fibre Channel switch,

wherein the fabric is configured into at least two zones and where said external devices are allowed to exchange data packets only with external devices in the same zone, each of said first and second Fibre Channel switches including;

a microprocessor;

local memory connected to said microprocessor; and

a Fibre Channel device connected to and controlled by said microprocessor, wherein said Fibre Channel device includes;

a source port for receiving data packets;

a destination port for transmitting data packets; and

device logic contained in said destination port and connecting said source port and said destination port, said device logic for storing configuration data indicative of the zone configuration of the fabric and for screening the received data packet.

61. The Fibre Channel fabric of claim 60, wherein said device logic blocks the transmission of the data packet based on the screening of the received data packet.

62. The Fibre Channel fabric of claim 61, wherein said destination port does not transmit the data packet.

63. The Fibre Channel fabric of claim 60, wherein said external devices are fabric-attached, loop-attached or a combination of fabric-attached and loop-attached.

64. The Fibre Channel fabric of claim 60, wherein said device logic includes a bitmap having a plurality of bits, each bit indicating whether two of the plurality of external devices are in the same zone.

65. A Fibre Channel device for use in a Fibre Channel fabric, the fabric coupling a plurality of external devices, the fabric configured into at least two zones, where the external devices are allowed to exchange data packets only with external devices in the same zone, the Fibre Channel device comprising:

a source port for receiving data packets;

a destination port transmitting data packets; and

device logic contained in said source port and connecting said source port and said destination port, said device logic for storing configuration data indicative of the zone configuration of the fabric and for screening the received data packet.

66. The Fibre Channel device of claim 65, wherein said device logic blocks transmission of the data packet based on screening of the data packet.

67. The Fibre Channel device of claim 66, wherein said source port does not transmit the data packet.

68. The Fibre Channel device of claim 65, wherein the external devices are fabric-attached, loop-attached or a combination of fabric-attached and loop-attached.

69. The Fibre Channel device of claim 65, wherein said device logic includes a bitmap having a plurality of bits, each bit indicating whether two of the plurality of external devices are in the same zone.

70. A Fibre Channel switch for use in a Fibre Channel fabric, the fabric coupling a plurality of external devices, the fabric configured into at least two zones, where the external devices are allowed to exchange data packets only with external devices in the same zone, the Fibre Channel switch comprising:

a microprocessor;

local memory connected to said microprocessor; and

a Fibre Channel device connected to and controlled by said microprocessor, wherein said Fibre Channel device includes;

a source port for receiving data packets;

a destination port for transmitting data packets; and

device logic contained in said source port and connecting said source port and said destination port, said device logic for storing configuration data indicative of the zone configuration of the fabric and for screening the received data packet.

71. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 70, wherein said device logic blocks the transmission of the data packet based on the screening of the data packet.

72. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 71, wherein said source port does not transmit the data packet.

73. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 70, wherein the external devices are fabric-attached, loop-attached or a combination of fabric-attached and loop-attached.

74. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 70, wherein said device logic includes a bitmap having a plurality of bits, each bit indicating whether two of the plurality of external devices are in the same zone.

75. A Fibre Channel fabric comprising:

a plurality of external devices;

a first Fibre Channel switch coupled to a first portion of said plurality of external devices; and

a second Fibre Channel switch coupled to a second portion of said plurality of external devices and coupled to said first Fibre Channel switch,

wherein the fabric is configured into at lease two zones and where said external devices are allowed to exchange data packets only with external devices in the same zone, each of said first and second Fibre Channel switches including;

a microprocessor;

local memory connected to said microprocessor; and

a Fibre Channel device connected to and controlled by said microprocessor, wherein said Fibre Channel device includes;

a source port for receiving data packets;

a destination port for transmitting data packets; and

device logic contained in source port and connecting said source port and said destination port, said device logic for storing configuration data indicative of the zone configuration of the fabric and for screening the received data packet.

76. The Fibre Channel fabric of claim 75, wherein said device logic blocks the transmission of the data packet based on the screening of the data packet.

77. The Fibre Channel fabric of claim 76, wherein said source port does not transmit the data packet.

78. The Fibre Channel fabric of claim 75, wherein said external devices are fabric-attached, loop-attached or a combination of fabric-attached and loop-attached.

79. The Fibre Channel fabric of claim 75, wherein said device logic includes a bitmap having a plurality of bits, each bit indicating whether two of the plurality of external devices are in the same zone.