High speed fibre channel switch element
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A Fibre Channel switch element, comprising:
- a plurality of ports for sending and receiving frames;
wherein each port is configurable to operate at more than one operating speed and includes a receive segment for receiving frames and a transmit segment for transmitting frames; and
a rate select module that receives a select speed signal from a common port of the switch element generated by firmware executed by a switch element processor, and based on the select speed signal, the rate select module provides a clock and a configuration signal to select an operating rate of a serializer/deserializer (SERDES) from among a plurality of SERDES to configure a port from among the plurality of ports to operate at a rate equal to or higher than 10 gigabits per second (“
G”
).
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Abstract
A high-speed Fiber Channel switch element in a Fiber Channel network is provided. The Fiber Channel switch element includes, a rate select module that allows a port in the Fiber Channel switch element to operate at a rate equal to and/or higher than 10 gigabits per second (“G”). The port may operate at 20G, 40G or at a rate greater than 40G. Also, a cut status is provided for cut-through routing between ports operating at different speed. Plural transmit and receive lines are used for port operation at a rate equal to or higher than 10G.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A Fibre Channel switch element, comprising:
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a plurality of ports for sending and receiving frames;
wherein each port is configurable to operate at more than one operating speed and includes a receive segment for receiving frames and a transmit segment for transmitting frames; anda rate select module that receives a select speed signal from a common port of the switch element generated by firmware executed by a switch element processor, and based on the select speed signal, the rate select module provides a clock and a configuration signal to select an operating rate of a serializer/deserializer (SERDES) from among a plurality of SERDES to configure a port from among the plurality of ports to operate at a rate equal to or higher than 10 gigabits per second (“
G”
). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A Fibre Channel network, comprising:
a Fibre Channel switch element including a plurality of ports for sending and receiving frames;
wherein each port is configurable to operate at more than one operating speed and includes a receive segment for receiving frames and a transmit segment for transmitting frames; and
a rate select module that receives a select speed signal from a common port of the switch element generated by firmware executed by a switch element processor, and based on the select speed signal, the rate select module provides a clock and a configuration signal to select an operating rate of a serializer/deserializer (SERDES) from among a plurality of SERDES to configure a port from among the plurality of ports to operate at a rate equal to or higher than 10 gigabits per second (“
G”
).- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A switch element, comprising:
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a plurality of ports for sending and receiving frames;
wherein each port is configurable to operate at more than one operating speed and includes a receive segment for receiving frames and a transmit segment for transmitting frames; anda rate select module that receives a select speed signal from a common port of the switch element generated by firmware executed by a switch element processor, and based on the select speed signal, the rate select module provides a clock and a configuration signal to select an operating rate of a serializer/deserializer (SERDES) from among a plurality of SERDES to configure a port from among the plurality of ports to operate at a rate equal to or higher than 10 gigabits per second (“
G”
). - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification