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Systems and methods for multi-protocol translation

  • US 9,584,632 B2
  • Filed: 10/28/2013
  • Issued: 02/28/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for transmitting a frame of a data stream from a first network device associated with a first network protocol to a second network device associated with a second network protocol, the method being performed by a storage area network switch including a first port coupled with the first network device and a second port coupled with the second network device, the method comprising:

  • associating the first port with the first network protocol;

    assigning a first virtual address to the first port, the first virtual address being represented in an address format associated with the second network protocol;

    assigning a second virtual address to the second port, the second virtual address being represented in an address format associated with the first network protocol;

    establishing a first mapping table that maps the first port to a first original address of the first network device and the first virtual address, and that maps the second port to a second original address of the second network device and the second virtual address;

    establishing, based on the first mapping table, a second mapping table that maps the first port and the second port to the second virtual address;

    providing, based on the second mapping table, the second virtual address to the first network device;

    receiving, from the first network device via the first port, a first frame, the first frame including the second virtual address as a destination address and the first original address as a source address;

    obtaining the second virtual address and the first original address from the first frame;

    determining, based on the second virtual address obtained from the first frame, and the first mapping table, that a destination device for the first frame is connected to the second port;

    determining, based on the first original address obtained from the first frame, and the first mapping table, the first virtual address;

    generating a second frame of the second network protocol to include the data included in the first frame, the second frame including the first virtual address as the source address; and

    transmitting the second frame to the second network device via the second port;

    wherein the first and second network protocols comprise at least one of;

    Ethernet;

    InfiniBand;

    Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface;

    Internet Small Computer System Interface; and

    Fibre Channel protocols.

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