Methods and apparatus for fibre channel frame delivery
First Claim
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1. A method for selectively delivering frames in a fibre channel fabric, the method comprising:
- detecting a fibre channel fabric link change at a fibre channel switch having a routing table;
generating an updated routing table associated with a topology version number, wherein generating the updated routing table comprises determining a next hop, an incoming label, and a destination corresponding to each entry in the updated routing table;
receiving a frame at the fibre channel switch, the frame having a first destination and a first label corresponding to a first entry in the updated routing table;
determining whether the fibre channel switch has received a first outgoing label having the same topology version number as the updated routing table, the first outgoing label corresponding to the first entry in the updated routing table; and
dropping the frame if it is determined that the fibre channel switch has not received the first outgoing label.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for improving fibre channel frame delivery. Techniques are provided for the in order delivery of frames by intelligently delaying or dropping selected fibre channel frames. Other techniques are provided for in order delivery by using label switching and frame labels. The various techniques can be applied during circumstances such as a link state or channel change.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for selectively delivering frames in a fibre channel fabric, the method comprising:
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detecting a fibre channel fabric link change at a fibre channel switch having a routing table; generating an updated routing table associated with a topology version number, wherein generating the updated routing table comprises determining a next hop, an incoming label, and a destination corresponding to each entry in the updated routing table; receiving a frame at the fibre channel switch, the frame having a first destination and a first label corresponding to a first entry in the updated routing table; determining whether the fibre channel switch has received a first outgoing label having the same topology version number as the updated routing table, the first outgoing label corresponding to the first entry in the updated routing table; and dropping the frame if it is determined that the fibre channel switch has not received the first outgoing label. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus, comprising:
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a processor operable to detect a fibre channel fabric link change at a fibre channel switch having a routing table and generate an updated routing table associated with a topology version number, wherein generating the updated routing table comprises determining a next hop, an incoming label, and a destination corresponding to each entry in the updated routing table; an interface connected to the processor, the interface operable to receive a frame at the fibre channel switch, the frame having a first destination and a first label corresponding to a first entry in the updated routing table; wherein the processor is further operable to determine whether the fibre channel switch has received a first outgoing label having the same topology version number as the updated routing table, the first outgoing label corresponding to the first entry in the updated routing table and drop the frame if it is determined that the fibre channel switch has not received the first outgoing label. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus, comprising:
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means for detecting a fibre channel fabric link change at a fibre channel switch having a routing table; means for generating an updated routing table associated with a topology version number, wherein generating the updated routing table comprises determining a next hop, an incoming label, and a destination corresponding to each entry in the updated routing table; means for receiving a frame at the fibre channel switch, the frame having a first destination and a first label corresponding to a first entry in the updated routing table; means for determining whether the fibre channel switch has received a first outgoing label having the same topology version number as the updated routing table, the first outgoing label corresponding to the first entry in the updated routing table; and means for dropping the frame if it is determined that the fibre channel switch has not received the first outgoing label. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification