Technique for implementing virtual fabric membership assignments for devices in a storage area network
First Claim
1. A method of implementing dynamic virtual SAN (VSAN) configuration of at least one N_Port in a storage area network, the method comprising:
- receiving a first fabric login request from a first N Port;
identifying a first portion of criteria from login information included in the first fabric login request; and
automatically and dynamically configuring a first VSAN association for the first N_Port based upon said first portion of criteria;
wherein the first portion of criteria includes information selected from a group consisting of;
PWWN information, node world wide name (NWWN) information, Fibre Channel address (FCID) information, Quality of Service (QoS) criteria, node ID information, Organization Unique Identifier (OUI) information, and vendor specific information.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A technique is provided for facilitating fabric membership login for an N_Port of a storage area network. A communication from a network node is received. The communication may include a portion of criteria associated with the N_Port. Using at least a portion of the portion of criteria, a virtual fabric identifier corresponding to a virtual fabric which is associated with the N_Port may be automatically identified. Fabric configuration information, which includes the virtual fabric identifier, may be automatically provided to the network node. A fabric login request from the N_Port to login to the virtual fabric may then be received. According to a specific embodiment, the communication may be transmitted from a network node to an F_Port on a Fiber Channel switch. When the N_Port received the fabric configuration information from the F_Port, the generating, using at least a portion of the received fabric configuration information, a fabric login request message may be generated by the N_Port which includes a fabric login request for the N_Port to login to the virtual fabric corresponding to the virtual fabric identifier. In at least one implementation, the N_Port and/or F_Port may be configured or designed to support trunking functionality.
117 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of implementing dynamic virtual SAN (VSAN) configuration of at least one N_Port in a storage area network, the method comprising:
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receiving a first fabric login request from a first N Port; identifying a first portion of criteria from login information included in the first fabric login request; and automatically and dynamically configuring a first VSAN association for the first N_Port based upon said first portion of criteria; wherein the first portion of criteria includes information selected from a group consisting of;
PWWN information, node world wide name (NWWN) information, Fibre Channel address (FCID) information, Quality of Service (QoS) criteria, node ID information, Organization Unique Identifier (OUI) information, and vendor specific information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of facilitating fabric membership login for a first N_Port of a storage area network, the method comprising:
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receiving a first fabric login request from a first network node which includes a first portion of criteria associated with the first N_Port; automatically identifying, using at least a portion of the first portion of criteria, a first virtual fabric identifier corresponding to a first virtual fabric associated with the first N_Port; and automatically providing, in response to the first fabric login request, fabric configuration information to the first network node which includes the first virtual fabric identifier. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A Fibre Channel switch in a storage area network, the Fibre Channel switch comprising:
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at least one processor; at least one first F_Port configured or designed to provide an interface to at least one other network device in the storage area network; and memory; the switch being configured or designed to; identify a first N_Port; identify a first portion of criteria associated with the first N_Port; and automatically and dynamically configure a first VSAN association for the first N_Port based upon said first portion of criteria; wherein the first portion of criteria includes information selected from a group consisting of;
PWWN information, node world wide name (NWWN) information, Fibre Channel address (FCID) information, Quality of Service (QoS) criteria, node ID information, Organization Unique Identifier (OUI) information, and vendor specific information. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for facilitating fabric membership login for a first N_Port of a storage area network, the system comprising:
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at least one processor; at least one interface configured or designed to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in the storage area network; and memory; the system being configured or designed to; receive a first fabric login request from a first network node which includes a first portion of criteria associated with the first N_Port; automatically identify, using at least a portion of the first portion of criteria, a first virtual fabric identifier corresponding to a first virtual fabric associated with the first N_Port; and automatically provide, in response to the first fabric login request, fabric configuration information to the first network node which includes the first virtual fabric identifier. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system of facilitating fabric membership login for a first N_Port of a storage area network, the system comprising:
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at least one processor; memory; means for receiving a first fabric login request from a first network node which includes a first portion of criteria associated with the first N_Port; means for automatically identifying, using at least a portion of the first portion of criteria, a first virtual fabric identifier corresponding to a first virtual fabric which is associated with the first N_Port; and means for automatically providing fabric configuration information to the first network node which includes the first virtual fabric identifier.
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26. A switch for use in a Fibre Channel fabric of a storage area network, the switch comprising:
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at least one processor; at least one interface configured or designed to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in the storage area network; and memory; the switch being operable to; receive a first fabric login request from a first network node which includes a first portion of criteria associated with the first N_Port; automatically identify, using at least a portion of the first portion of criteria, a first virtual fabric identifier corresponding to a first virtual fabric associated with the first N_Port; and automatically provide, in response to the first fabric login request, fabric configuration information to the first network node which includes the first virtual fabric identifier.
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Specification