System and method for providing proxy and translation domains in a fibre channel router

• US 8,125,992 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2008
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Makishima, Dennis Hideo, Park, Daniel Ji Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Morlan, Robert M
• Application Number:
  US12/272,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20090073992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 370/389, 370/392, 370/401
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/04 Interdomain routing, e.g. hierarchical routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/60 Router architectures

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.

Claims

1. A device for routing packets, comprising:

a first port and a third port for connecting to a first fabric, and for providing a communication link with a first device connected to the first fabric;

a second port for coupling to a second fabric, and for providing a communication link with a second device connected to the second fabric; and

control logic coupled to the first, second and third port;

wherein said control logic;

enables communication between the first and second device;

provides a proxy of said second device in said first fabric for addressing by said first device;

translates addresses in packets addressed to said second device proxy by said first device as being for said second device;

presents said first port as a first domain and said third port as a third domain different from said first domain in said first fabric;

presents a second domain different from said first and third domains in said first fabric, said second domain connected to said first domain and said second device proxy connected to said second domain; and

wherein the control logic further provides a proxy of said first device in said second fabric for addressing by said second device, and further translates addresses in packets addressed to said first device proxy by said second device as being for said first device from said second device proxy;

wherein the control logic further translates addresses in packets addressed to said second device proxy as being from said first device proxy; and

wherein the control logic further presents said second port as a fourth domain in said second fabric, and further presents a fifth domain in said second fabric connected to said fourth domain, with said first device proxy connected to said fifth domain.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said second port is further for connecting to a third fabric, and further for coupling to the second fabric via the third fabric.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said third domain is connected to said second domain.

4. A device for routing packets, comprising:

a first and a second port for connecting to a first fabric, and for providing communication links with a first device connected to the first fabric;

a third port for coupling to a second fabric, and for providing a communication link with a second device connected to the second fabric; and

control logic coupled to the first, second and third port;

wherein said control logic;

enables communication between the first and second device;

provides a proxy of said second device in said first fabric for addressing by said first device;

translates addresses in packets addressed to said second device proxy by said first device as being for said second device;

presents said first port as a first domain in said first fabric, and said second port as a second domain different from said first domain in said first fabric; and

presents a third domain different from said first and second domains in said first fabric, said third domain connected to said first and said second domain, with said second device proxy connected to said third domain;

wherein if communications between said first and second device through either the first or second port are interrupted, the devices continue to communicate through the remaining accessible port using the same proxies previously provided by the control logic; and

wherein the control logic further provides a proxy of said first device in said second fabric for addressing by said second device, and further translates addresses in packets addressed to said first device proxy by said second device as being for said first device from said second device proxy;

wherein the control logic further translates addresses in packets addressed to said second device proxy as being from said first device proxy; and

wherein the control logic further presents said third port as a fourth domain in said second fabric, and further presents a fifth domain in said second fabric connected to said fourth domain, with said first device proxy connected to said fifth domain.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said first fabric performs exchange-based load balancing of communication traffic between the first and second device across the first and second ports.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein said third port is further for connecting to a third fabric, and further for coupling to the second fabric via the third fabric.

7. The device of claim 4 further comprising a fourth port for connecting to the first fabric, said fourth port presented as a fourth domain different from said first and second domains in said first fabric, and said fourth domain connected to said third domain.

8. The device of claim 4:

wherein the control logic further provides a proxy of said first device in said second fabric for addressing by said second device, and further translates addresses in packets addressed to said first device proxy by said second device as being for said first device from said second device proxy;

wherein the control logic further translates addresses in packets addressed to said second device proxy as being from said first device proxy; and

wherein the control logic further presents said third port as a fourth domain in said second fabric, and further presents a fifth domain in said second fabric connected to said fourth domain, with said first device proxy connected to said fifth domain.

9. A system for routing packets comprising:

a first fabric;

a first device connected to said first fabric;

a second fabric;

a second device connected to said second fabric; and

a routing system connected to said first and second fabrics for allowing said first and second devices to communicate, said routing system comprising;

a first and second port both connected to said first fabric; and

a third port connected to said second fabric;

wherein said routing system;

provides a proxy of said second device in said first fabric for addressing by said first device, and a proxy of said first device in said second fabric for addressing by said second device;

translates addresses in packets addressed to said second device proxy by said first device as being for said second device from said first device proxy, and addresses in packets addressed to said first device proxy by said second device as being for said first device from said second device proxy;

presents said first port as a first domain in said first fabric, said second port as a second domain different from said first domain in said first fabric, and said third port as a third domain in said second fabric;

presents a fourth domain different from said first and second domains in said first fabric connected to said first domain and to said second domain, with said second device proxy connected to said fourth domain; and

presents a fifth domain in said second fabric connected to said third domain with said first device proxy connected to said fifth domain; and

wherein if communications between the first and second device through either the first or second port are interrupted, the devices continue to communicate through the remaining accessible port using the same proxies previously provided by the routing system.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said first fabric performs exchange-based load balancing of communication traffic between the first and second device across the first and second ports.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said routing system further comprises:

a first router connected to said first fabric;

a second router connected to said second fabric; and

a third fabric connected to said first and second routers.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said routing system further comprises:

a third router connected to said first and third fabrics;

wherein said first and second ports are in said first router, said third port is in said second router; and

wherein having a fourth port in said third router, said fourth port is presented as a sixth domain different from said first, second and fourth domains in said first fabric, and said sixth domain is connected to said fourth domain.

13. The system of claim 12,

wherein said first, second, third, fourth and fifth domains are virtual domains;

and

wherein said connections between said first and fourth domains, said second and fourth domains, and said third and fifth domains are virtual connections.

14. The system of claim 11,

wherein said first and second ports are in said first router, and said third port is in said second router;

and

wherein there is a fourth port in said first router, said fourth port being presented as a sixth domain different from said first, second and fourth domains in said first fabric, and said sixth domain connected to said fourth domain.

15. The system of claim 9,

wherein said routing system further comprises a first router;

and

wherein said first, second and third ports are in said first router.

16. The system of claim 9, the system further comprising:

a third fabric having at least one domain and connected to said routing system; and

a third device connected to said third fabric;

wherein said routing system;

provides a proxy of said third device in said first fabric for addressing by said first device, a proxy of said third device in said second fabric for addressing by said second device, a proxy of said first device in said third fabric for addressing by said third device, and a proxy of said second device in said third fabric for addressing by said third device, said routing system further having a fourth port connected to said third fabric;

translates addresses in packets addressed to said third device first fabric proxy by said first device as being for said third device from said first device third fabric proxy, addresses in packets addressed to said third device second fabric proxy by said second device as being for said third device from said second device third proxy, addresses in packets addressed to said first device third fabric proxy by said third device as being for said first device from said third device first fabric proxy, and addresses in packets addressed to said second device third fabric proxy by said third device as being for said second device from said third device second fabric proxy; and

presents said fourth port as a sixth domain in said third fabric, a seventh domain in said third fabric connected to said sixth domain, an eighth domain in said third fabric connected to said sixth domain, a ninth domain different from said first, second and fourth domains in said first fabric connected to said first and second domains, and a tenth domain in said second fabric connected to said third domain;

wherein said first device third fabric proxy connects to said seventh domain, said second device third fabric proxy connects to said eighth domain, said third device first fabric proxy connects to said ninth domain, and said third device second fabric proxy connects to said tenth domain.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said routing system further comprises:

a first router connected to said first fabric;

a second router connected to said second fabric;

a third router connected to said third fabric; and

a fourth fabric connected to said first, second and third routers.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said first to tenth domains are virtual domains, and said various connections among said first to tenth domains are virtual connections.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said routing system further comprises:

a first router connected to said first and second fabrics;

a second router connected to said third fabric; and

a fourth fabric connected to said first and second routers.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said routing system comprises a first router and wherein said first, second, third and fourth ports are in said first router.

21. A routing system for routing packets between a first device connected to a first fabric and a second device connected to a second fabric, the routing system comprising:

a first port and a second port for connection to the first fabric;

a third port for connection to the second fabric;

a proxy device unit providing a proxy of the second device in the first fabric for addressing by the first device and a proxy of the first device in the second fabric for address by the second device;

a domain presenter for presenting said first port as a first domain in the first fabric, said second port as a second domain different from said first domain in the first fabric, said third port as a third domain in the second fabric, a fourth domain different from said first and second domains in the first fabric connected to said first domain and to said second domain, and a fifth domain in the second fabric connected to the third domain, said second device proxy connected to said fifth domain and said first device proxy connected to said fourth domain; and

an address translator for translating addresses in packets addressed to said second device proxy by said first device as being for said second device from said first device proxy and translating addresses in packets addressed to said first device proxy by said second device as being for said first device from said second device proxy;

wherein if communications between the first and second device through either the first or second port are interrupted, the devices continue to communicate through the remaining accessible port using the same proxies previously provided by the proxy unit.

22. The routing system of claim 21, wherein said first fabric performs exchange-based load balancing of communication traffic between the first and second device across the first and second ports.

23. The routing system of claim 21, further comprising:

a first router for connection to the first fabric;

a second router for connection to the second fabric; and

a third fabric connected to said first and second routers.

24. The routing system of claim 23, further comprising:

a fourth port for connection to the first fabric; and

a third router for connection to the first fabric;

wherein said domain presenter presents said fourth port as a sixth domain different from said first, second and fourth domains in the first fabric, and said sixth domain is connected to said fourth domain.

25. The routing system of claim 24, wherein said first, second, third, fourth and fifth domains are virtual domains, and said connections between said first and fourth domains, said second and fourth domains, and said second and fifth domains are virtual connections.

26. The routing system of claim 23, further comprising:

a fourth port for connection to the first fabric;

wherein said domain presenter presents said fourth port as a sixth domain different from said first, second and fourth domains in the first fabric; and

wherein said sixth domain is connected to said fourth domain.

27. The routing system of claim 21, further comprising a first router, with said first, second and third ports in said first router.

28. The routing system of claim 21, for further routing packets between a third device connected to a third fabric and the first and second devices, the routing system further comprising a fourth port for connection to the third fabric, and

wherein said proxy device unit provides a proxy of said third device in said first fabric for addressing by said first device, a proxy of said third device in said second fabric for addressing by said second device, a proxy of said first device in said third fabric for addressing by said third device and a proxy of said second device in said third fabric for addressing by said third device;

wherein said domain presenter presents a seventh domain in said third fabric connected to said sixth domain, an eighth domain in said third fabric connected to said sixth domain, a ninth domain different from said first, second and fourth domains in said first fabric connected to said first and second domains, and a tenth domain in said second fabric connected to said third domain, with said first device third fabric proxy connected to said seventh domain, said second device third fabric proxy connected to said eighth domain, said third device first fabric proxy connected to said ninth domain, and said third device second fabric proxy connected to said tenth domain; and

wherein said address translator translates addresses in packets addressed to said third device first fabric proxy by the first device as being for the third device from said first device third fabric proxy, translates addresses in packets addressed to said third device second fabric proxy by the second device as being for the third device from said second device third proxy, translates addresses in packets addressed to said first device third fabric proxy by the third device as being for the first device from said third device first fabric proxy, and translates addresses in packets addressed to the second device third fabric proxy by the third device as being for the second device from said third device second fabric proxy.

29. The routing system of claim 28, further comprising:

a first router for connection to the first fabric;

a second router for connection to the second fabric;

a third router for connection to the third fabric; and

a fourth fabric connected to said first, second and third routers.

30. The routing system of claim 29, wherein said first to tenth domains are virtual domains, and said various connections among said first to tenth domains are virtual connections.

31. The routing system of claim 28, further comprising:

a first router for connection to the first and second fabrics;

a second router for connection to the third fabric; and

a fourth fabric connected to said first and second routers.

32. A method for routing packets between a first device connected to a first fabric and a second device connected to a second fabric, the method comprising:

providing a proxy of the second device in the first fabric for addressing by the first device, and a proxy of the first device in the second fabric for address by the second device;

presenting a first port as a first domain in the first fabric, a second port as a second domain different from said first domain in the first fabric, and a third port as a third domain in the second fabric;

presenting a fourth domain different from said first and second domains in the first fabric connected to said first domain and to said second domain, and a fifth domain in the second fabric connected to the third domain, said second device proxy connected to said fifth domain and said first device proxy connected to said fourth domain; and

translating addresses in packets addressed to said second device proxy by the first device as being for the second device from said first device proxy, and addresses in packets addressed to said first device proxy by the second device as being for the first device from said second device proxy;

wherein if communications between the first and second device through either the first or second port are interrupted, the devices continue communicating through the remaining accessible port using the previously provided proxies.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising performing exchange-based load balancing of communication traffic between the first and second device across the first and second ports.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising presenting a fourth port as a sixth domain different from said first, second and fourth domains in the first fabric, and connecting said sixth domain to said fourth domain.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said first, second, third, fourth and fifth domains are virtual domains, and said connections between said first and fourth domains, said second and fourth domains, and said third and fifth domains are virtual connections.

36. The method of claim 32, for further routing packets between a third device connected to a third fabric and the first and second devices, the method further comprising:

providing a proxy of the third device in the first fabric for addressing by the first device, a proxy of the third device in the second fabric for addressing by the second device, a proxy of the first device in the third fabric for addressing by the third device, and a proxy of the second device in the third fabric for addressing by the third device;

presenting a seventh domain in the third fabric connected to said sixth domain, an eighth domain in the third fabric connected to said sixth domain, a ninth domain different from said first, second and fourth domains in the first fabric connected to said first and said second domains, and a tenth domain in the second fabric connected to said third domain,

connecting said first device third fabric proxy to said seventh domain, said second device third fabric proxy to said eighth domain, said third device first fabric proxy to said ninth domain, and said third device second fabric proxy to said tenth domain; and

translating addresses in packets addressed to said third device first fabric proxy by the first device as being for the third device from said first device third fabric proxy, addresses in packets addressed to said third device second fabric proxy by the second device as being for the third device from said second device third proxy, addresses in packets addressed to said first device third fabric proxy by the third device as being for the first device from said third device first fabric proxy, and addresses in packets addressed to the second device third fabric proxy by the third device as being for the second device from said third device second fabric proxy.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said first to tenth domains are virtual domains, and said various connections among said first to tenth domains are virtual connections.

38. A device comprising:

control logic,

wherein the control logic is for coupling to a first, a second, and a third port, the first port and the third port configured to provide a communication link with a first device connected to a first fabric and the second port configured to provide a communication link with a second device connected to a second fabric,

wherein the control logic is configured to;

provide a proxy of the second device in the first fabric for addressing by the first device;

present the first port as a first domain in the first fabric;

present the third port as a third domain different from the first domain in the first fabric; and

present a second domain different from the first domain and the third domain in the first fabric, wherein the second domain is connected to the first domain and the third domain and the second device proxy is connected to the second domain;

wherein the control logic further provides a proxy of said first device in said second fabric for addressing by said second device, and further translates addresses in packets addressed to said first device proxy by said second device as being for said first device from said second device proxy;

wherein the control logic further translates addresses in packets addressed to said second device proxy as being from said first device proxy; and

wherein the control logic further presents said second port as a fourth domain in said second fabric, and further presents a fifth domain in said second fabric connected to said fourth domain, with said first device proxy connected to said fifth domain.

39. A device comprising:

a first port and a third port for connecting to a first fabric, and providing a communication link with a first device connected to the first fabric, wherein the first port is presented as a first domain in the first fabric and the third port is presented as a third domain different from the first domain in the first fabric;

a second port for coupling to a second fabric, and for providing a communication link with a second device connected to the second fabric;

a proxy of the second device in the first fabric for addressing by the first device; and

a second domain different from the first and the third domains in the first fabric,

the second domain connected to the first domain and the third domain and the second device proxy connected to the second domain;

wherein a proxy of said first device is provided in said second fabric for addressing by said second device, and addresses in packets addressed to said first device proxy by said second device are translated as being for said first device from said second device proxy;

wherein addresses in packets addressed to said second device proxy are further translated as being from said first device proxy; and

wherein said second port is presented as a fourth domain in said second fabric, and a fifth domain is further presented in said second fabric connected to said fourth domain, with said first device proxy connected to said fifth domain.