Abstract: A storage router (56) and storage network (50) provide virtual local storage on remote SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) to Fiber Channel devices. A plurality of Fiber Channel devices, such as workstations (58), are connected to a Fiber Channel transport medium (52), and a plurality of SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) are connected to a SCSI bus transport medium (54). The storage router (56) interfaces between the Fibre Channel transport medium (52) and the SCSI bus transport medium (54). The storage router (56) maps between the workstations (58) and the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) and implements access controls for storage space on the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64). The storage router (56) then allows access from the workstations (58) to the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) using native low level, block protocol in accordance with the mapping and the access controls.

Abstract: A storage router (56) and storage network (50) provide virtual local storage on remote SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) to Fiber Channel devices. A plurality of Fiber Channel devices, such as workstations, (58), are connected to a Fiber Channel transport medium (52), and a plurality of SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) are connected to a SCSI bus transport medium (54). The storage router (56) interfaces between the Fiber Channel transport medium (52) and the SCSI bus transport medium (54). The storage router (56) maps between the workstations (58) and the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) and implements access controls for storage space on the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64). The storage router (56) then allows access from the workstations (58) to the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) using native low level, block protocol in accordance with the mapping and the access controls.

Abstract: A method and system for decoding 8B/10B data is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of determining the presence of one of a plurality of predetermined data sequences within a first portion of a data word, translating the predetermined data sequences into representative signals (flags) having a smaller aggregate data width than the first portion of the data word, and providing the representative signals together with remaining portions of the data word to a logic block for decoding. This embodiment of the present method allows the encoded data to be decoded using limited-width decoders, allows first and second portions of each encoded data word to be decoded concurrently, and allows the decoding of the encoded data words to be pipelined to increase the throughput of the decoder.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for processing commands to network target devices through a SCSI router in a Fiber Channel network having a plurality of Fiber Channel hosts. The system and method are implemented in the SCSI router and include receiving a command from one of the plurality of Fiber Channel hosts and, if the command is for a transfer of data larger than a threshold size, streaming the data to the target device. If a preset size memory block is free, a data block is requested from the Fiber Channel host that issued the command. Otherwise, the method of this invention waits to request the data block until the preset size memory block is free. The SCSI router receives the data block and stores the data block in a FIFO queue. The method of this invention repeats until an initial number of data blocks are stored in the FIFO queue. The command and the first data block received are forwarded to the network target device.

Abstract: A segmented fiber channel communications system includes a segmentation router, including a plurality of ports. Control instructions associated with the segmentation router establish the segmentation router as a master router by initializing each of at least a predetermined subset of the plurality of ports on a fiber channel arbitrated loop associated with the segmentation router. This causes the segmentation router to win the LISM process performed by the fiber channel arbitrated loop. Control instructions further includes instructions for transmitting LIPA, LIHA, and LISA frames to the fiber channel arbitrated loop from each of the ports. Transmission begins with LIPA frames having all but the LIPA frame range of address bits set to 1. This prevents other network loop ports attached to a router other than the master router from acquiring a duplicate address. The system then establishes a plurality of sub-loops each associated with a predetermined set of physical addresses.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for processing tagged commands from a Fibre Channel host in a Fibre Channel network to one or more SCSI streaming target devices through a SCSI router. The method includes the step of determining whether the command is a tagged command. If the command is a tagged command, then the command processing method of the current invention determines whether the intended target device is a streaming target device. If the intended target device is a streaming target device, the method and system of the present invention can convert the command's format from a tagged command format to an un-tagged format and forward the command to the intended target device. Flags in an internal SCSI router register can be set to track which, if any, devices attached to the SCSI router can support tagged commands. Upon completion of the command, the method of the present invention can forward the command complete message to the issuing Fibre Channel host.

Abstract: A method and system for discovering the location of a storage router, and therefore the attached storage devices, in a fibre channel network using the storage router's fully qualified domain name to ultimately determine the storage router's arbitrated loop physical address (AL_PA). An Internet protocol domain name query containing the fully qualified domain name is sent from a host computer over the storage area network to a domain name server to determine an Internet Protocol address for the storage router. The domain name server replies with the storage router Internet Protocol address. The host computer then sends an address resolution protocol request containing the Internet protocol address over the storage area network to determine a node name for the storage router. The storage router replies with its node name.

Abstract: In a fiber channel network, a method and system for discovering the location of a storage device that does not support FARP using a FARP broadcast using a storage router as a proxy. The storage device can be connected to the storage router via an arbitrated loop or a local SCSI interface. The storage router can perform a discovery to determine the node names of each storage device connected to it and save the discovered storage device node names to a look-up table. The storage router then sends a FARP request to each storage device on the look-up table. For each storage device that responds, flagging the corresponding node name for that storage device in the look-up table as FARP compatible, and for each storage device that does not respond, flagging the corresponding node name as not being FARP compatible.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting and correcting error conditions on sequential devices in a private loop direct access fiber channel network respectively include the steps and instructions for determining the state of an exchange using an initiator and initiating an appropriate sequence level recovery using the initiator. The invention further includes determining whether a target response is overdue using a timer in conjunction with internal driver state information for indicating that packet information may have been lost. The invention further requests exchange and sequence state information from the target for determining the need for corrective action and takes the needed corrective action, such as resending sequence information, requesting that the target resend sequence information, or providing early indication to the ULP that an error has occurred.

Abstract: A method and system for maintaining a unique reserve command relationship between an initiator and a target device in a Fibre Channel network across network address changes after a break in communication. The present invention maintains triplet tables containing data triplets, comprised of the network address, the port name, and the node name, for each initiator and each target device. Following a break in network communication that results in the network address of an initiator and/or a target device changing, the method of the present invention updates the recorded network addresses for the initiators and the target devices, maintains any previously-existing unique reserve command relationships and continues with I/O transmission. Although the network address of an initiator may change, the node name and port name of the initiator will remain the same.

Abstract: A Fibre Channel to SCSI Addressing method and system is provided. The system associates with a Fibre Channel and a SCSI bus. The system further maintains a Fibre Channel to SCSI routing table (90) and a SCSI to Fibre Channel routing table (92). The system receives a cross bus transfer of data that originates on either the Fibre Channel or the SCSI bus, respectively, and wherein the cross bus transfer is intended for a target on the SCSI bus or Fibre Channel, respectively. The apparatus translates addressing information contained in the cross bus transfer by referencing either the Fibre Channel to SCSI routing table 90 or the SCSI to Fibre Channel routing table 92.

Abstract: A storage router (56) and storage network (50) provide virtual local storage on remote SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) to Fiber Channel devices. A plurality of Fiber Channel devices, such as workstations (58), are connected to a Fiber Channel transport medium (52), and a plurality of SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) are connected to a SCSI bus transport medium (54). The storage router (56) interfaces between the Fiber Channel transport medium (52) and the SCSI bus transport medium (54). The storage router (56) maps between the workstations (58) and the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) and implements access controls for storage space on the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64). The storage router (56) then allows access from the workstations (58) to the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) using native low level, block protocol in accordance with the mapping and the access controls.