Method and system for creating and implementing zones within a fibre channel system

• US 7,283,486 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2004
• Issued: 10/16/2007
• 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, Ramsay, Paul, Zhu, Jieming, Malavalli, Kumar
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper; Kevin C.
• Application Number:
  US10/780,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20040160953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/351, 370/389, 370/392, 370400-406
• 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 Fibre 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, the devices otherwise being able to communicate through the first fabric, 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;

in the definition of the first configuration, at least one zone is characterized by a type of communication; and

the step of restricting communications includes restricting communications between devices which are member of said zone to said type of communication.

2. In a system comprising a first fabric and a plurality of devices coupled to the first fabric by Fibre Channel connections, the devices otherwise being able to communicate through the first fabric, 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 first fabric comprises at least two interconnected fabric elements to which the devices are coupled, and

wherein;

the step of accessing the definition of the first configuration includes;

storing the definition of the first configuration in each fabric element, and

each fabric element accessing the definition; and

the step of restricting communications between the devices includes, responsive to the definition of the first configuration, each fabric element restricting communications for the devices coupled to said fabric element.

3. The method of claim 2 farther including:

responsive to a coupling of an additional fabric element to the first fabric, determining whether any definition for any configuration is stored in said fabric element; and

responsive to no definitions being stored in the additional fabric element, storing the definition of the first configuration in the additional fabric element.

4. A computer readable medium containing software for logically organizing a plurality of devices coupled to a first fabric by Fibre Channel connections, the devices otherwise being able to communicate through the first fabric, the software for instructing a processor to perform the steps of:

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;

in the definition of the first configuration, at least one zone is characterized by a type of communication; and

the step of restricting communication includes restricting communications between devices which are member of said zone to said type of communication.