Fibre channel switch that enables end devices in different fabrics to communicate with one another while retaining their unique fibre channel domain—IDs
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a Switch configured to couple a first fabric having a first set of end devices including a first device and a second fabric having a second set of end devices including a second device, each of the first set of end devices and the second set of end devices having a unique Domain_ID address respectively, the Switch configured to enable communication between the first set of end devices in the first fabric with the second set of end devices associated with the second fabric while maintaining the unique Domain_ID addresses of the first set of end devices and the second set of end devices,wherein the first fabric and the second fabric are configured to be separate physical fabrics; and
the Switch is a Border Switch that is configured to be part of both the first fabric and the second fabric, the Border Switch configured to send frames of information including Fabric Shortest Path First (FSPF) frames between the first fabric and the second fabric to enable communication between members of the first set of end devices and the second set of end devices, wherein Domain_ID address of the first device is announced to the second set of end devices if the second device resides in the same inter-VSAN zone as the first device or the second set of end devices reside in a transit VSAN.
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Abstract
An Fibre Channel Switch which enables end devices in different Fabrics to communicate with one another while retaining their unique Fibre Channel Domain_IDs. The Switch is coupled to a first fabric having a first set of end devices and a second fabric having a second set of end devices. The Switch is configured to enable communication by the first set of end devices associated with the first fabric with the second set of end devices associated with the second set of end devices using the unique Domain_IDs of each of the first set and the second set of end devices. In one embodiment of the invention, the first and second fabrics are first and second Virtual Storage Array Networks (VSANs) respectively. In an alternative embodiment, the first fabric and the second fabric are separate physical fabrics.
155 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a Switch configured to couple a first fabric having a first set of end devices including a first device and a second fabric having a second set of end devices including a second device, each of the first set of end devices and the second set of end devices having a unique Domain_ID address respectively, the Switch configured to enable communication between the first set of end devices in the first fabric with the second set of end devices associated with the second fabric while maintaining the unique Domain_ID addresses of the first set of end devices and the second set of end devices, wherein the first fabric and the second fabric are configured to be separate physical fabrics; and the Switch is a Border Switch that is configured to be part of both the first fabric and the second fabric, the Border Switch configured to send frames of information including Fabric Shortest Path First (FSPF) frames between the first fabric and the second fabric to enable communication between members of the first set of end devices and the second set of end devices, wherein Domain_ID address of the first device is announced to the second set of end devices if the second device resides in the same inter-VSAN zone as the first device or the second set of end devices reside in a transit VSAN. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus, comprising:
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a first fabric; a second fabric; a first set of end devices associated with the first fabric and a second set of end devices associated with the second fabric, the first set and the second set of end devices each having a unique Domain_ID address respectively; and a communication mechanism configured to enable the first set of end devices associated with the first fabric to communicate with the second set of end devices associated with the second fabric while maintaining the unique Domain_ID addresses of the first set of end devices and the second set of end devices, wherein the communication mechanism is a Border Switch that is configured to be part of both the first fabric and the second fabric, the Border Switch configured to send frames of information including Fabric Shortest Path First (FSPF) frames between the first fabric and the second fabric to enable communication between members of the first set of end devices and the second set of end devices, wherein Domain_ID address of the first device is announced to the second set of end devices if the second device resides in the same inter-VSAN zone as the first device or the second set of end devices reside in a transit VSAN. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification