Method for validating operation of a fibre link
First Claim
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1. A method for validating operation of a fibre link within a fibre channel loop, comprising:
- receiving a Loop Initialization Primitive (LIP) to initialize the fibre link;
entering a trial link up state upon receiving the Loop Initialization Primitive (LIP) so that normal commands to other devices within the fibre channel loop are not resumed; and
thereafter entering a final link up state and resuming normal commands to other devices within the fibre channel loop,wherein a Loop Initialization Primitive (LIP) command is not sent by any device within the fibre channel loop during the trial link up state.
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Abstract
A method for validating operation of a fiber link when the fiber link is initialized includes the steps of entering a trial link up state upon receiving a command to initialize the fiber link so that normal commands to other devices within the fiber channel loop are not resumed, and thereafter entering a final link up state and resuming normal commands to other devices within the fiber channel loop. In exemplary embodiments, the method may be implemented by devices within a system such as a disk array system of a storage area network (SAN), or the like.
71 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for validating operation of a fibre link within a fibre channel loop, comprising:
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receiving a Loop Initialization Primitive (LIP) to initialize the fibre link; entering a trial link up state upon receiving the Loop Initialization Primitive (LIP) so that normal commands to other devices within the fibre channel loop are not resumed; and thereafter entering a final link up state and resuming normal commands to other devices within the fibre channel loop, wherein a Loop Initialization Primitive (LIP) command is not sent by any device within the fibre channel loop during the trial link up state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system capable of validating operation of a fibre link of the system, comprising:
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means for receiving a command to initialize the fibre link, the command to initialize the fibre link comprising a Loop Initialization Primitive (LIP); means for entering a trial link up state upon receiving a command to initialize the fibre link so that normal commands to other devices within a fibre channel loop are not resumed; and means for thereafter entering a final link up state and resuming normal commands to other devices within the fibre channel loop, wherein a Loop Initialization Primitive (LIP) command is not sent by any device within the fibre channel loop during the trial link up state. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A disk array system, comprising:
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a disk array controller for controlling devices within the disk array system; and a device within the disk array system, the device being coupled to the disk array controller via a fibre channel loop, wherein at least one of the disk array controller and the device is capable of validating operation of a fibre link within the fibre channel loop by entering a trial link up state upon receiving a command to initialize the fibre link so that normal commands to other devices within the fibre channel loop are not resumed and thereafter entering a final link up state and resuming normal commands to other devices within the fibre channel loop, wherein a Loop Initialization Primitive (LIP) command is not sent by any device within the fibre channel loop during the trial link up state, and wherein at least one of the disk array controller and the device sends a no operation frame (NOP) to itself while in the trial linkup state and enters the final linkup state upon receiving the no operation frame (NOP). - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A storage area network, comprising:
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a disk array controller for controlling devices within a disk array system; and a device within the disk array system, the device being coupled to the disk array controller via a fibre link, wherein at least one of the disk array controller and the device is capable of validating operation of a fibre link by entering a trial link up state upon receiving a command to initialize the fibre link so that normal commands to other devices within a fibre channel loop are not resumed and thereafter entering a final link up state and resuming normal commands to other devices within the fibre channel loop, wherein a Loop Initialization Primitive (LIP) command is not sent by any device within the fibre channel loop during the trial link up state, and wherein at least one of the disk array controller and the device sends a no operation frame (NOP) to itself while in the trial linkup state and enters the final linkup state upon receiving the no operation frame (NOP). - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification