Apparatus and system for coupling and decoupling initiator devices to a network using an arbitrated loop without disrupting the network
First Claim
1. An apparatus for coupling multiple processing devices to a network, comprising:
- a switch that includes a network port configured to route frames based on a plurality of arbitrated loop physical addresses, the network port configured for coupling to a network, and one or more initiator ports each configured for coupling to one or more processing devices, wherein the switch routes data from the network port to the plurality of initiator ports and from the plurality of initiator ports to the network port; and
a management agent, wherein, during operation of the apparatus, the management agent enables configuration changes caused by the coupling of a first processing device to a first initiator port of the plurality of initiator ports or by the decoupling of the first processing device from the first initiator port by facilitating continued communications between a second processing device coupled to a second initiator port and a target device coupled to the network port, and wherein the management agent includesa front-end for performing operations relating to tasks associated with the network port; and
a back-end for performing operations relating to tasks associated with the initiator ports.
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Abstract
The present invention enables the coupling and decoupling of multiple processing devices to a network without disrupting the network. In an embodiment, the invention provides a switch having a network port and several initiator ports each configured for coupling to a processing device. The switch is configured to route data from the network port to the initiator ports and from the initiator ports to the network port. A management agent facilitates operation of the switch by processing port initializations, replying to device registration requests, and processing predetermined unsolicited discovery commands. During operation, the management agent enables configuration changes caused, for example, by the coupling and/or decoupling of processing device to initiator ports.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for coupling multiple processing devices to a network, comprising:
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a switch that includes a network port configured to route frames based on a plurality of arbitrated loop physical addresses, the network port configured for coupling to a network, and one or more initiator ports each configured for coupling to one or more processing devices, wherein the switch routes data from the network port to the plurality of initiator ports and from the plurality of initiator ports to the network port; and a management agent, wherein, during operation of the apparatus, the management agent enables configuration changes caused by the coupling of a first processing device to a first initiator port of the plurality of initiator ports or by the decoupling of the first processing device from the first initiator port by facilitating continued communications between a second processing device coupled to a second initiator port and a target device coupled to the network port, and wherein the management agent includes a front-end for performing operations relating to tasks associated with the network port; and a back-end for performing operations relating to tasks associated with the initiator ports. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for coupling multiple processing devices to a network, comprising:
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a network port, configured for coupling to a network, configured to route frames based on a predetermined number of arbitrated loop physical addresses; a plurality of initiator ports each configured for coupling to a processing device; computer logic, coupled to the network port and the plurality of initiator ports; and software, configured to be executed by the computer logic, wherein, during operation of the apparatus, the computer logic and the software enable configuration changes caused by the coupling of a first processing device to a first initiator port of the plurality of initiator ports or by the decoupling of the first processing device from the first initiator port by facilitating continued communications between a second processing device coupled to a second initiator port and a target device coupled to the network port, and wherein the software includes a front-end portion for performing operations relating to tasks associated with the network port; and a back-end portion for performing operations relating to tasks associated with the initiator ports. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for coupling multiple processing devices to a network, comprising:
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a network port, configured for coupling to a network, configured to route frames based on a predetermined number of arbitrated loop physical addresses; a plurality of initiator ports each configured for coupling to a processing device; and processing means, coupled to the network port and the plurality of initiator ports, wherein during operation of the apparatus the processing means enables configuration changes caused by the coupling of a first processing device to a first initiator port of the plurality of initiator ports or by the decoupling of the first processing device from the first initiator port by facilitating continued communications between a second processing device coupled to a second initiator port and a target device coupled to the network port, the processing means including front-end means for performing operations relating to tasks associated with the network port; and back-end means for performing operations relating to tasks associated with the initiator ports. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for coupling multiple processing devices to a network, comprising:
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a plurality of initiator devices; a plurality of network switches coupled by an inter-switch communications link, wherein each network switch includes a network port and an initiator port; an aggregator circuit that couples the initiator devices to an external network, the aggregator circuit including the plurality of network switches; and a management agent, wherein, during operation of the system, the management agent enables configuration changes caused by the coupling of a first processing device to a first initiator port of one of the plurality of network switches or by the decoupling of the first processing device from the first initiator port by facilitating continued communications between a second processing device coupled to a second initiator port of one of the plurality of network switches and a target device coupled to a first network port of one of the plurality of network switches, and wherein the management agent includes a front-end for performing operations relating to tasks associated with the network port; and a back-end for performing operations relating to tasks associated with the initiator port.
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Specification