Node device cooperating with switch which implements zones in a fibre channel system

• US 8,279,775 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2007
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Banks, David, Malavalli, Kumar, Ramsay, Paul, Teow, Kha Sin, Zhu, Jieming
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAMPTON, TARELL A
• Application Number:
  US11/748,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20070211650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,967 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/255, 370/351, 370/389
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/645 Fibre channel identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/354 for supporting virtual local area networks [VLAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/357 Fibre channel switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/65 Re-configuration of fast packet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4505 using standardised directories; using standardised directory access protocols

Abstract

In a system comprising a first fabric and a plurality of devices coupled to the fabric by Fibre Channel connections, the devices are logically grouped to form configurations and zones. A configuration includes at least one zone, and each zone includes at least one device as a member of the zone. Communications between the devices is restricted according to the configuration currently in effect. For example, one device may be permitted to communicate with another device only if they are members of a common zone.

Claims

1. A method of operating a Fibre Channel node device coupled to a Fibre Channel fabric, the Fibre Channel fabric having a plurality of coupled node devices, with at least two zones defined to include at least one node device as a member of each zone, the method of operating the Fibre Channel node device comprising:

querying the Fibre Channel Fabric, using a Fibre Channel command, for a list of addresses of other node devices coupled to the Fibre Channel Fabric; and

receiving a list of only the addresses of other node devices which are in a common zone with the Fibre Channel node device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said querying step occurs when the Fibre Channel node device is coupled to the Fibre Channel fabric.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an instruction to perform the querying step an additional time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the querying step is directed to a simple name server.

5. A method of operating a Fibre Channel node device, comprising:

querying a Fibre Channel fabric, using a Fibre Channel command, for a list of addresses of other node devices coupled to the Fibre Channel fabric; and

receiving a list of only the addresses of other node devices which are in a common zone of at least two zones with the Fibre Channel node device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said querying step occurs when the Fibre Channel node device is coupled to the Fibre Channel fabric.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving an instruction to perform the querying step an additional time.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the querying step is directed to a simple name server.

9. A method of operating a Fibre Channel node device coupled to a Fibre Channel fabric, the Fibre Channel fabric having a plurality of coupled node devices, with at least two zones defined to include at least one node device as a member of each zone, the method of operating the Fibre Channel node device comprising:

providing a Fibre Channel-based query to the Fibre Channel fabric for a list of addresses of other node devices coupled to the Fibre Channel fabric; and

receiving a list of only the addresses of other node devices which are in a common zone with the Fibre Channel node device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said querying step occurs when the Fibre Channel node device is coupled to the Fibre Channel fabric.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving an instruction to perform the querying step an additional time.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the querying step is directed to a simple name server.

13. A method of operating a Fibre Channel node device, comprising:

providing a Fibre Channel-based query to a Fibre Channel fabric for a list of addresses of other node devices coupled to the Fibre Channel fabric; and

receiving a list of only the addresses of other node devices which are in a common zone of at least two zones with the Fibre Channel node device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said querying step occurs when the Fibre Channel node device is coupled to the Fibre Channel fabric.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving an instruction to perform the querying step an additional time.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the querying step is directed to a simple name server.