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Fibre channel transparent switch for mixed switch fabrics

  • US 7,340,167 B2
  • Filed: 10/08/2004
  • Issued: 03/04/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A network for communication between a target device operationally coupled to a proprietary switch fabric and a host system, comprising:

  • a transparent Fibre Channel switch element that is operationally coupled to the host system and the proprietary switch fabric; and

    the Fibre Channel switch element'"'"'s presence is transparent to the proprietary switch fabric when the host system communicates with the target device; and

    the Fibre Channel switch element includes at least a transparent fabric port and a transparent host port;

    wherein after the Fibre Channel switch element is powered up, the transparent host port is initialized and the Fibre Channel switch element collects identifier information for a host bus adapter during a fabric login process; and

    after the identifier information is collected, the transparent host port is disabled; and

    the transparent fabric port is initialized after the transparent host port is disabled; and

    the transparent fabric port sends a fabric login request (FLOGI) to the proprietary switch fabric as if the Fibre Channel switch element was the host system; and

    the transparent fabric port stores virtual N_Port identifier (VNPID) information in an alias cache for routing frames and every entry for a virtual N_Port matches with a corresponding transparent host port.

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