Zone management in a multi-module fibre channel switch
First Claim
1. A method for handling a fibre channel Zone Merge Request from an external switch to a multi-module switch of a network system with a plurality of switch modules, comprising:
- sending received zone data from one of the plurality of switch modules of the multi-module switch that receives the Zone Merge request to a management module;
wherein the plurality of switch modules have at least one external port and one internal port; and
the external port is used to communicate with devices external to the multi-module switch including the external switch and the internal port is used to communicate with one or more of the plurality of switch modules; and
one of the plurality of switch modules operates as a primary blade so that the multi-module switch appears as a single switch to other devices in the network system; and
comparing received zone data with current zone data, wherein such comparison is performed by the management module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for changing zoning in a fiber channel fabric is provided. The method includes receiving zone date from a management module, wherein the zone data is received by a fiber channel switch; waiting for active Zone Set; and sending a merge request to neighboring switches. The method also includes, sending Zone Merge Data Start message to the management module; sending new zone data to management module; and comparing the new zone data with current zone data. The method also includes creating acceptance message for new zoning, wherein the management module creates the acceptance message.
276 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for handling a fibre channel Zone Merge Request from an external switch to a multi-module switch of a network system with a plurality of switch modules, comprising:
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sending received zone data from one of the plurality of switch modules of the multi-module switch that receives the Zone Merge request to a management module;
wherein the plurality of switch modules have at least one external port and one internal port; and
the external port is used to communicate with devices external to the multi-module switch including the external switch and the internal port is used to communicate with one or more of the plurality of switch modules; and
one of the plurality of switch modules operates as a primary blade so that the multi-module switch appears as a single switch to other devices in the network system; andcomparing received zone data with current zone data, wherein such comparison is performed by the management module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for loading zoning data from a management module to a plurality of switch modules of a multi-module switch, after a zone merge request is received from a neighboring switch, the method comprising the steps of:
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sending a Zone Merge Data Start message from the management module to the switch modules; sending new zone data from the management module to the plurality of switch modules; and initiating a zone merge with a neighboring switch after the switch modules have received the zone data from the management module;
wherein the zone merge is initiated by one of the plurality of switch modules; and
the plurality of switch modules have at least one external port and one internal port; and
the external port is used to communicate with devices external to the multi-module switch including the external fibre channel switch and the internal port is used to communicate with one or more of the plurality of switch modules; and
one of the plurality of switch modules operates as a primary blade so that the multi-module switch appears as a single switch to other devices in the network system.
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6. A method for processing a zone merge request sent by an external fibre channel switch to one of the plurality of switch modules of a multi-module switch, the method comprising the steps of:
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sending a Zone Merge Data Start message from the switch module that receives the zone merge request to a management module; sending new zone data to the management module; and comparing the new zone data with current zone data;
wherein the plurality of switch modules have at least one external port and one internal port; and
the external port is used to communicate with devices external to the multi-module switch including the neighboring switch and the internal port is used to communicate with one or more of the plurality of switch modules;and one of the plurality of switch modules operates as a primary blade so that the multi-module switch appears as a single switch to other devices in the network system. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for handling zone changes based on commands sent from an external switch and received by a switch module from among a plurality of switch modules in a multi-module switch in a fibre channel fabric, the method comprising the steps of:
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the switch module receiving an accept change authorization (ACA) message from the external switch; the switch module determining whether a zone management operation is already in process; and the switch module forwarding the ACA message to a management module, wherein the plurality of switch modules have at least one external port and one internal port; and
the external port is used to communicate with devices external to the multi-module switch and the internal port is used to communicate with one or more of the plurality of switch modules; and
one of the plurality of switch modules operates as a primary blade so that the multi-module switch appears as a single switch to other devices in a network system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification