Abstract: A Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) device obtains knowledge of the configuration of an attached Ethernet fabric from data fields within a frame header during a fabric initialization or login (FLOGI) process. FCoE N_Ports obtain similar information during the port initialization or login (PLOGI) process. The FCoE device may provide network management services to attached FCoE devices. Embodiments include a management module or processor within an FCoE N_Port. The management module or processor receives a frame having a header and validates and extracts information associated with an Ethernet fabric from the FCoE N_Ports and in order to provide management services based on the information associated with the Ethernet fabric. The FCoE N_Port communicatively couples to at least one additional FCoE N_Port through the Ethernet fabric. The FCoE N_Ports may be implemented within a disc storage drive, a host bus adapter, and/or an FCoE switch.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 24, 2008
Date of Patent:
July 10, 2012
Assignee:
International Business Machines Corporation
Inventors:
Scott M. Carlson, Daniel G. Eisenhauer, Roger G. Hathorn, Jeffrey W. Palm, Sandy K. Kao, Renato J. Recio