Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes monitoring an egress port connected to a server to detect a traffic flow comprising a plurality of data packets and determining whether one of the packets is timeout dropped at the egress port. If at least one of the packets is timeout dropped at the egress port, the method further includes detecting a destination identifier (“DID”) of the timeout dropped packet and withdrawing a device identified by the detected DID from an FC zone to which it is assigned and reactivating the zone. The method further includes determining whether the traffic flow is experiencing high wait times at the egress port and, if the traffic flow is experiencing high wait times at the egress port, detecting the DID of the traffic flow and reducing a priority of the zone to which the detected DID is assigned and reactivating the zone.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a time unconstrained fabric switch software upgrade function is described for an in-switch-software-upgrade/downgrade (ISSU) in a network switch. Prior to an ISSU, Hello protocol data unit (PDU) information is stored for relevant control protocols of associated interfaces of the switch. The Hello PDU information comprises information on messages and data exchanged by the control protocols that may be used to maintain communications links of the switch. During the configuring of the ISSU, and while the control plane of the switch is, at least partially, dysfunctional, Hello PDUs are sent on the interfaces according to the stored PDU information in order to maintain the communication links. The Hello PDU information may include a time interval value for each relevant protocol that determines when Hello PDUs are sent.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes monitoring an egress port connected to a server to detect a traffic flow comprising a plurality of data packets and determining whether one of the packets is timeout dropped at the egress port. If at least one of the packets is timeout dropped at the egress port, the method further includes detecting a destination identifier (“DID”) of the timeout dropped packet and withdrawing a device identified by the detected DID from an FC zone to which it is assigned and reactivating the zone. The method further includes determining whether the traffic flow is experiencing high wait times at the egress port and, if the traffic flow is experiencing high wait times at the egress port, detecting the DID of the traffic flow and reducing a priority of the zone to which the detected DID is assigned and reactivating the zone.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for collecting and delivering consolidated nameserver information in a merged Fiber (Fiber) Channel (FC) fabric. A principal switch in a merged FC fabric collects information from one or more subordinate switches. The principal switch consolidates the information collected from the subordinate switches to generate consolidated nameserver information. The principal switch then pushes the consolidated nameserver information from the principal switch to each of the subordinate switches.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes monitoring an egress port connected to a server to detect a traffic flow comprising a plurality of data packets and determining whether one of the packets is timeout dropped at the egress port. If at least one of the packets is timeout dropped at the egress port, the method further includes detecting a destination identifier (“DID”) of the timeout dropped packet and withdrawing a device identified by the detected DID from an FC zone to which it is assigned and reactivating the zone. The method further includes determining whether the traffic flow is experiencing high wait times at the egress port and, if the traffic flow is experiencing high wait times at the egress port, detecting the DID of the traffic flow and reducing a priority of the zone to which the detected DID is assigned and reactivating the zone.

Abstract: A Fiber (Fiber) Channel (FC) switch and related methods are provided for merging FC fabrics. During a merger process of two separate FC fabrics, a principal switch in a merged FC fabric allocates a domain identifier (ID) to each switch in the merged FC fabric. The principal switch is configured to build a complete domain ID list that identifies the domain IDs for all switches in the merged FC fabric. After the complete domain ID list is generated, the principal switch transmits a message to all switches in the merged FC fabric, the message including the complete domain ID list.

Abstract: An example method for performance monitoring and troubleshooting in a storage area network (SAN) environment is provided and includes receiving, at a network element in the SAN, a plurality of frames of an exchange between an initiator and a target in the SAN, identifying a beginning frame and an ending frame of the exchange in the plurality of frames, copying the beginning frame and an ending frame of the exchange to a network processor in the network element, extracting, by the network processor, values of a portion of fields in respective headers of the beginning frame and the ending frame, and calculating, by the network processor, a normalized exchange completion time (ECT) based on the values.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for collecting and delivering consolidated nameserver information in a merged Fibre (Fiber) Channel (FC) fabric. A principal switch in a merged FC fabric collects information from one or more subordinate switches. The principal switch consolidates the information collected from the subordinate switches to generate consolidated nameserver information. The principal switch then pushes the consolidated nameserver information from the principal switch to each of the subordinate switches.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a time unconstrained fabric switch software upgrade function is described for an in-switch-software-upgrade/downgrade (ISSU) in a network switch. Prior to an ISSU, Hello protocol data unit (PDU) information is stored for relevant control protocols of associated interfaces of the switch. The Hello PDU information comprises information on messages and data exchanged by the control protocols that may be used to maintain communications links of the switch. During the configuring of the ISSU, and while the control plane of the switch is, at least partially, dysfunctional, Hello PDUs are sent on the interfaces according to the stored PDU information in order to maintain the communication links. The Hello PDU information may include a time interval value for each relevant protocol that determines when Hello PDUs are sent.

Abstract: A Fibre (Fiber) Channel (FC) switch and related methods are provided for merging FC fabrics. During a merger process of two separate FC fabrics, a principal switch in a merged FC fabric allocates a domain identifier (ID) to each switch in the merged FC fabric. The principal switch is configured to build a complete domain ID list that identifies the domain IDs for all switches in the merged FC fabric. After the complete domain ID list is generated, the principal switch transmits a message to all switches in the merged FC fabric, the message including the complete domain ID list.

Abstract: According to the present invention, methods and apparatus are provided to allow efficient and effective aggregation of ports into port channels in a fiber channel network. A local fiber channel switch can automatically identify compatible ports and initiate exchange sequences with a remote fiber channel switch to aggregate ports into port channels. Ports can be aggregated synchronously to allow consistent generation of port channel map tables.