Method and system for primary blade selection in a multi-module fibre channel switch

• US 7,388,861 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: QLogic Corporation (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Weber, Renae M., Vitters, Timothy, Betker, Steven Manning
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCELO, MELVIN C
• Application Number:
  US11/608,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20070081527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 370/360, 370/386, 370/426
• US Class Current: 370/386
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/15 Interconnection of switching modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/254 Centralised controller, i.e. arbitration or scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/357 Fibre channel switches

Abstract

A system and method for selecting a primary blade in a multi-module fibre channel switch with plural blades is provided. The system includes a state machine for sending exchangeable blade parameter(s) (“EBP”) to the plural blades; and determining if a primary blade flag is set. If the primary blade flag is set, selecting the blade with the EBP priority number. If the primary blade flag is not selected, then selecting a blade with an EBP priority number if the EBP priority number is less than a retained priority number.

Claims

1. A method for a multi-module switch, comprising:

selecting a primary blade from among a plurality of blades by sending exchangeable blade parameter(s) (“

EBP”

) to the plural blades; and

notifying at least another blade of primary blade selection,

wherein the method for selecting the primary blade, comprises;

determining if a primary blade flag is set in an EBP payload; and

selecting a blade with a EBP priority and a blade slot number if the primary blade flag is selected.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a blade with an EBP priority number if the EBP priority number is less than a retained priority number and the primary blade flag is un-selected.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a blade with an EBP priority number equal to a retained priority number and an EBP slot number is less than a retained primary blade slot number.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending EBPs to plural blades notifying the blades of a selected primary blade.

5. A system for selecting a primary blade in a multi-module fibre channel switch with plural blades, comprising;

a port for sending exchangeable blade parameter(s) (“

EBP”

) to the plural blades; and

determining if a primary blade flag is set in an EBP payload.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the port selects a blade with an EBP priority and a blade slot number if the primary blade flag is selected.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein a blade is selected if the blade has an EBP priority number and the EBP priority number is less than a retained priority number and the primary blade flag is un-selected.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein a blade is selected if the blade has an EBP priority number equal to a retained priority number and an EBP slot number is less than a retained primary blade slot number.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the port sends EBPs to the plural blades notifying the blades of the selected primary blade.