Multifabric global header
First Claim
1. A switching device comprising:
- a packet header translation element which changes a destination identifier of a first packet received from a first device in a local fabric, to which the switching device is configured for direct coupling, from a local fabric phantom identifier of a second device in a remote fabric, to which the switching device is configured for indirect coupling, to an actual identifier of the second device in the remote fabric while leaving a source identifier of the first packet unchanged.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A Fiber Channel router used to join fabrics. EX_ports are used to connect to the fabrics. The EX_port joins the fabric but the router will not merge into the fabric. Ports in the Fiber Channel router can be in a fabric, but other ports can be connected to other fabrics. Fiber Channel routers can be interconnected using a backbone fabric. Global, interfabric and encapsulation headers are developed to allow routing by conventional Fiber Channel switch devices in the backbone fabric and simplify Fiber Channel router routing. Phantom domains and devices must be developed for each of the fabrics being interconnected. Front phantom domains are present at each port directly connected to a fabric. Each of these is then connected to at least one translate phantom domain. Zoning is accomplished by use of a special LSAN zoning naming convention. This allows each administrator to independently define devices are accessible.
42 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A switching device comprising:
a packet header translation element which changes a destination identifier of a first packet received from a first device in a local fabric, to which the switching device is configured for direct coupling, from a local fabric phantom identifier of a second device in a remote fabric, to which the switching device is configured for indirect coupling, to an actual identifier of the second device in the remote fabric while leaving a source identifier of the first packet unchanged. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A switching device comprising:
a packet header translation element which changes a source identifier of a packet received from a source device in a remote fabric, to which the switching device is configured for indirect coupling, from an actual identifier of the source device in the remote fabric to a local fabric phantom identifier of the source device in a local fabric, to which the switching device is configured for direct coupling, while leaving a destination identifier of the packet unchanged. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method performed by a switching device, the method comprising:
changing a destination identifier of a packet received from a first device in a local fabric, to which the switching device is configured for direct coupling, from a local fabric phantom identifier of a second device to an actual identifier of the second device in a remote fabric, to which the switching device is configured for indirect coupling, while leaving a source identifier unchanged. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method performed by a switching device, the method comprising:
changing a source identifier of a packet received from a first device in a remote fabric, to which the switching device is configured for indirect coupling, from an actual identifier of the first device in the remote fabric to a local fabric phantom identifier of the first device in a local fabric, to which the switching device is configured for direct coupling, while leaving a destination identifier unchanged. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
Specification