Methods and apparatus for alleviating deadlock in a fibre channel network
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling congestion in a fibre channel network, the method comprising:
- determining that a plurality of frames buffered at a first switch in a fibre channel network are stalled, wherein the first switch is configured to buffer the plurality of frames until a second switch provides a second switch transmission credit to the first switch; and
providing a reserve credit to the first switch, the reserve credit allowing transmission of one of the plurality of frames to the second switch, wherein transmission of one of the plurality of frames allows the first switch to release a transmission credit to the second switch.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for alleviating deadlock and controlling congestion in a network such as a fibre channel network. Techniques are provided for detecting stalled frames at a fibre channel switch. Reserve credits are released when stalled frames are detected. In some instances, reserve credits are released after a predetermined period of time. Reserve credits allow transmission to effectively reduce deadlock and congestion. Reserve credits are particularly effective in reducing deadlock resulting from transient loops in a fibre channel network.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for controlling congestion in a fibre channel network, the method comprising:
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determining that a plurality of frames buffered at a first switch in a fibre channel network are stalled, wherein the first switch is configured to buffer the plurality of frames until a second switch provides a second switch transmission credit to the first switch; and providing a reserve credit to the first switch, the reserve credit allowing transmission of one of the plurality of frames to the second switch, wherein transmission of one of the plurality of frames allows the first switch to release a transmission credit to the second switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A fibre channel switch in a fibre channel network, the switch comprising:
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a buffer at a first fibre channel switch in a fibre channel network, the buffer configured to hold a first plurality of frames until transmission credits are available to send the first plurality of frames; a processor configured to obtain a reserve credit, the reserve credit allowing transmission of one of the plurality of frames to a second switch, wherein transmission of one of the plurality of frames allows the first fibre channel switch to release a transmission credit to the second switch. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A fibre channel switch, comprising:
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means for determining that a plurality of frames buffered at a first switch in a fibre channel network are stalled, wherein the first switch is configured to buffer the plurality of frames until a second switch provides a second switch transmission credit to the first switch; and means for obtaining a reserve credit at the first switch, the reserve credit allowing transmission of one of the plurality of frames to the second switch, wherein transmission of one of the plurality of frames allows the first switch to release a transmission credit to the second switch. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A computer readable storage medium having computer code embodied therein, the computer readable storage medium comprising:
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computer code for determining that a plurality of frames buffered at a first switch in a fibre channel network are stalled, wherein the first switch is configured to buffer the plurality of frames until a second switch provides a second switch transmission credit to the first switch; and computer code for obtaining a reserve credit at the first switch, the reserve credit obtained from an interface included in the first switch, the reserve credit allowing transmission of one of the plurality of frames to the second switch, wherein transmission of one of the plurality of frames allows the first switch to release a transmission credit to the second switch. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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Specification