Methods and apparatus for encapsulating a frame for transmission in a storage area network
First Claim
1. A method implemented on a network device for use in a storage area network, the method comprising:
- receiving or generating a packet or frame compatible with a standard protocol employed in the storage area network, the packet or frame including a first header;
encapsulating the packet or frame with a virtual storage area network identifier, a type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame, and information specifying at least one of a TTL value or MPLS information, wherein encapsulating comprises appending a second header to the packet or frame to create a new packet or frame, wherein the second header includes fields for the virtual storage area network identifier and information specifying at least one of the TTL value or the MPLS information, wherein the second header further includes a field specifying the type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame, wherein the type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame is one of two or more available types of traffic, wherein the two or more available types of traffic include at least one of Ethernet, fibre channel, or Infiniband; and
sending the encapsulated packet or frame.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for encapsulating a packet or frame for transmission in a storage area network are disclosed. A packet or frame compatible with a standard protocol employed in the storage area network is received or generated. The packet or frame is then encapsulated with a virtual storage area network identifier. The packet or frame may further be encapsulated with at least one of a TTL value, MPLS information, and a type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame. For instance, the type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame may include Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and Infiniband. Once encapsulated, the encapsulated packet or frame is sent over the storage area network. For instance, the encapsulated packet or frame may be generated as well as transmitted by a switch over an inter-switch link in the storage area network.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. A method implemented on a network device for use in a storage area network, the method comprising:
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receiving or generating a packet or frame compatible with a standard protocol employed in the storage area network, the packet or frame including a first header; encapsulating the packet or frame with a virtual storage area network identifier, a type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame, and information specifying at least one of a TTL value or MPLS information, wherein encapsulating comprises appending a second header to the packet or frame to create a new packet or frame, wherein the second header includes fields for the virtual storage area network identifier and information specifying at least one of the TTL value or the MPLS information, wherein the second header further includes a field specifying the type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame, wherein the type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame is one of two or more available types of traffic, wherein the two or more available types of traffic include at least one of Ethernet, fibre channel, or Infiniband; and sending the encapsulated packet or frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-readable medium storing thereon computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method on a network device in a storage area network, comprising:
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instructions for receiving or generating a packet or frame compatible with a standard protocol employed in the storage area network, the packet or frame including a first header; instructions for encapsulating the packet or frame with a virtual storage area network identifier, a type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame, and information specifying at least one of a TTL value or MPLS information, wherein the instructions for encapsulating comprise instructions for appending a second header to the packet or frame to create a new packet or frame, wherein the second header includes fields for the virtual storage area network identifier and information specifying at least one of the TTL value or the MPLS information, wherein the second header further includes a field specifying the type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame, wherein the type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame is one of two or more available types of traffic, wherein the two or more available types of traffic include at least one of Ethernet, fibre channel, or Infiniband; and instructions for sending the encapsulated packet or frame. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A network device for use in a storage area network, the network device comprising:
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a plurality of ports each configured to transmit and/or receive packets or frames compatible with one or more standard protocols employed in the storage area network; and a processor and associated instructions that can encapsulate packets or frames of at least one of the standard protocols to include a virtual storage area network identifier, a type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame, and information specifying at least one of a TTL value or MPLS information and deliver the resulting encapsulated packets or frames for transmission over the storage area network, the packet or frame including a first header, wherein the processor and associated instructions are configured to append a second header to the packet or frame to create a new packet or frame, wherein the second header includes fields for the virtual storage area network identifier and the information specifying at least one of the TTL value or the MPLS information, wherein the second header further includes a field specifying the type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame, wherein the type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame is one of two or more available types of traffic, wherein the two or more available types of traffic include at least one of Ethernet, fibre channel, or Infiniband.
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41. A network device for use in a storage area network, the network device comprising:
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means for transmitting and/or receive packets or frames compatible with one or more standard protocols employed in the storage area network; and means for encapsulating packets or frames of at least one of the standard protocols to include a virtual storage area network identifier, a type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame, and information specifying at least one of a TTL value or MPLS information, the packet or frame including a first header, wherein the means for encapsulating includes means for appending a second header to the packet or frame to create a new packet or frame, wherein the second header includes fields for the virtual storage area network identifier and the information specifying at least one of the TTL value or the MPLS information, wherein the second header further includes a field specifying a type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame, wherein the type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame is one of two or more available types of traffic, wherein the two or more available types of traffic include at least one of Ethernet, fibre channel, or Infiniband; and means for delivering the resulting encapsulated packet or frames for transmission over the storage area network.
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42. A switch for use in a storage area network, the switch comprising:
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a plurality of ports each configured to transmit and/or receive packets or frames compatible with one or more standard protocols employed in the storage area network, where at least one of the ports supports an inter-switch link with another switch on a storage area network, wherein the packets or frames compatible with one or more standard protocols employed in the storage area network include a first header; and a processor and associated instructions that can encapsulate packets or frames of at least one of the standard protocols to include a virtual storage area network identifier, a type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame, and information specifying at least one of a TTL value or MPLS information and deliver the resulting encapsulated packets or frames for transmission from the port supporting the inter-switch link, wherein the processor can encapsulate said packets or frames by adding a second header to the packets or frames to create new packets or frames, wherein the second header includes fields for the virtual storage area network identifier and information specifying at least one of the TTL value or the MPLS information, wherein the second header further includes a field specifying a type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame, wherein the type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame is one of two or more available types of traffic, wherein the two or more available types of traffic-include at least one of Ethernet, fibre channel, or Infiniband. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method implemented on a network device for use in a storage area network, the method comprising:
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receiving or generating a packet or frame compatible with a standard protocol employed in the storage area network, the packet or frame including a first header; encapsulating the packet or frame with a virtual storage area network identifier and information specifying a type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame, wherein the type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame is one of two or more available types of traffic, wherein the two or more available types of traffic include at least one of Ethernet, fibre channel, or Infiniband, wherein encapsulating comprises adding a second header to the packet or frame to create a new packet or frame, wherein the second header includes fields for the virtual storage area network identifier and the information specifying the type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame; and sending the encapsulated packet or frame. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52)
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53. A computer-readable medium storing thereon computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method on a network device in a storage area network, comprising:
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instructions for receiving or generating a packet or frame compatible with a standard protocol employed in the storage area network, the packet or frame including a first header; instructions for encapsulating the packet or frame with a virtual storage area network identifier and information specifying a type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame, wherein the type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame is one of two or more available types of traffic, wherein the two or more available types of traffic include at least one of Ethernet, fibre channel, or Infiniband, wherein the instructions for encapsulating comprise instructions for adding a second header to the packet or frame to create a new packet or frame, wherein the second header includes fields for the virtual storage area network identifier and the type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame; and instructions for sending the encapsulated packet or frame. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56)
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57. A method implemented on a switch for use in a fibre channel network, the method comprising:
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receiving or generating a fibre channel packet or frame, the fibre channel packet or frame including a first header; encapsulating said fibre channel packet or frame with a TTL value, wherein encapsulating comprises adding a second header to the packet or frame to create a new packet or frame, wherein the second header includes a field for the TTL value a virtual storage area network identifier, and a type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame, wherein the second header further includes a field specifying the type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame, wherein the type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame is one of two or more available types of traffic, wherein the two or more available types of traffic include at least one of Ethernet, fibre channel, or Infiniband; and sending the encapsulated packet or frame over an inter-switch link in the fibre channel network.
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58. A computer-readable medium storing thereon computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method on a switch for use in a fibre channel network, comprising:
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instructions for receiving or generating a fibre channel packet or frame, the fibre channel packet or frame including a first header; instructions for encapsulating said fibre channel packet or frame, wherein encapsulating comprises adding a second header to the packet or frame to create a new packet or frame, wherein the second header includes a virtual storage area network identifier, a field for the TTL value, and a field specifying a type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame, wherein the type of traffic to be carried by the packet or frame is one of two or more available types of traffic, wherein the two or more available types of traffic include at least one of Ethernet, fibre channel, or Infiniband; and instructions for sending the encapsulated packet or frame over an inter-switch link in the fibre channel network.
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Specification