Method and system for routing and filtering network data packets in fibre channel systems
First Claim
1. A method for processing frames, comprising:
- (a) receiving a frame at a port of a switch element;
(b) simultaneously comparing incoming frame information with a plurality of fields of an alias cache entry from among a plurality of alias cache entries that are configured by a switch element processor;
wherein the alias cache entry includes a control word based on which the frame is processed by the switch element; and
wherein the control word includes a word depth field for identifying which word in the frame is compared to the alias cache entry field, and a programmed action code that determines an action based on the comparison to route the frame to a destination based on a matching alias cache entry, discard the frame, set a status for inspecting the frame and route the frame based on a standard addressing scheme;
(c) performing a word depth match by comparing incoming frame word depth with a programmed word depth of the alias cache entry; and
(d) routing the frame based on the action code of the alias cache entry.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fiber channel switch element with an alias cache is provided for routing and filtering frames. The alias cache includes plural entries including a control word having plural fields including an action code for routing frames; an alias word that is compared to incoming frame data using a frame byte compare block; and a bit mask generator for filtering bit combinations from the frame byte compare block; and a depth match block for determining equality between a control word depth field and incoming frame depth field. Frame data comparison is performed on a bit by bit or byte-by-byte basis. An alias cache entry also includes prerequisite data to determine if results of a different entry are to be used to determine an entry match. The action code routes a frame to a processor, discards a frame, sets a status for inspecting a frame or routes a frame based on a standard Fiber Channel addressing scheme.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for processing frames, comprising:
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(a) receiving a frame at a port of a switch element; (b) simultaneously comparing incoming frame information with a plurality of fields of an alias cache entry from among a plurality of alias cache entries that are configured by a switch element processor;
wherein the alias cache entry includes a control word based on which the frame is processed by the switch element; and
wherein the control word includes a word depth field for identifying which word in the frame is compared to the alias cache entry field, and a programmed action code that determines an action based on the comparison to route the frame to a destination based on a matching alias cache entry, discard the frame, set a status for inspecting the frame and route the frame based on a standard addressing scheme;(c) performing a word depth match by comparing incoming frame word depth with a programmed word depth of the alias cache entry; and (d) routing the frame based on the action code of the alias cache entry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system, comprising:
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a switch element receiving a frame from another device, the switch element comprising; an alias cache having a plurality of entries for simultaneously comparing frame information with a plurality of fields of an alias cache entry that are configured by a switch element processor; wherein the alias cache entry includes a control word having a plurality of fields based on which the frame is processed by the switch element; and
wherein the control word includes a word depth field identifying which word in the frame is compared to the alias cache entry, and a programmed action code that determines an action based on the comparison to route the frame to a destination based on a matching alias cache entry, discard the frame, set a status for inspecting the frame and route the frame based on a standard addressing scheme;a frame byte compare block for comparing frame information with an alias cache entry word; a bit mask generator for filtering bit combinations received from the frame byte compare block; and a depth match block for determining equality between a control word depth field and an incoming frame depth field. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A switch element, comprising:
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an alias cache having a plurality of entries for simultaneously comparing frame information with a plurality of fields of an alias cache entry that are configured by a switch element processor; wherein the alias cache entry includes a control word having a plurality of fields based on which the frame is processed by the switch element; and
wherein the control word includes a word depth field identifying which word in the frame is compared to the alias cache entry, and a programmed action code that determines an action based on the comparison to route the frame to a destination based on a matching alias cache entry, discard the frame, set a status for inspecting the frame and route the frame based on a standard addressing scheme;a frame byte compare block for comparing frame information with an alias cache entry word; a bit mask generator for filtering bit combinations received from the frame byte compare block; and a depth match block for determining equality between a control word depth field and an incoming frame depth field. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for processing frames, comprising:
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(a) receiving a frame at a port of a switch element; (b) determining if the frame is pre-destined for a switch processor; (c) if the incoming frame is not pre-destined for the switch processor, simultaneously comparing frame information with a plurality of fields of an alias cache entry from among a plurality of alias cache entries that are configured by a switch element processor;
wherein the alias cache entry includes a control word based on which the frame is processed by the switch element; and
wherein the control word includes a word depth field for identifying which word in the frame is compared to the alias cache entry field, and a programmed action code that determines an action based on the comparison to route the frame to a destination based on a matching alias cache entry, discard the frame, set a status for inspecting the frame and route the frame based on a standard addressing scheme;(d) performing a word depth match by comparing the frame'"'"'s word depth with a programmed word depth in the alias cache entry; and (d) routing the frames based on the action code of the alias cache entry. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification