Abstract: A cache system and method in accordance with the invention includes a cache near the target devices and another cache at the requesting host side so that the data traffic across the computer network is reduced. A cache updating and invalidation method are described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adding inductance is disclosed. Inductance may be added to a transmission line coupled to a printed circuit board to increase the inductance associated with a transmission line by utilizing ferromagnetic materials.

Abstract: A fluid moving system is disclosed wherein a plurality of stacked blowers may provide for the redundant supply of cooling fluid such as air. This system may be advantageously utilized to cool electronic equipment or other uses. One or more of the blowers may utilize an impellor design that allows for the axial flow of fluid through the blower in addition to a transverse fluid outlet. In addition, the blowers may incorporate a flow gate operative to reduce back flow should a particular blower have a reduced fluid flow.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide for high-density and high speed interconnections while maintaining reduced signal interference. In some embodiments, differential signals are organized in connectors such that differential signal pairs are orthogonal to each other. In other embodiments, differential signal tri-conductor sets may be oriented such that they are generally orthogonal to each other. The orthogonal contact organization may provide for reduced coupling between differential signals.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for processing storage commands between a host and a target. The system includes a first line card, a system card, and a second line card. The storage command that is issued from the host is received by the first line card. The first line card determines whether or not it can process the request by itself and, if so, forwards the storage command to the second line card for forwarding (and eventual processing) by the target. If the first line card cannot process the storage command by itself, it forwards the storage command to the system card for additional processing. The revised storage command is issued from the system card to the first line card. The first line card then issues the revised storage command to the second line card for eventual processing by the target.

Abstract: A scalable switch fabric system and apparatus for computer networks. The scalable switch fabric system and apparatus comprises a Switch Fabric Subsystem, Input-Output Subsystems, Application Subsystems and System Control Subsystems. The Switch Fabric Subsystem is a protocol agnostic cell or packet switching infrastructure that provides scalable interconnections between the Input-Output Subsystems and Application Subsystems. The Switch Fabric Subsystem provides primary data paths for network traffic being moved by the switch. The Input-Output Subsystems connect to the external network devices that use the switch to communicate with other external network devices. The Input-Output Subsystems are part of the data path and do low level decoding of ingress frames from the external ports; switching/routing, identifying the destination Input-Output Subsystems for the frame; and queuing the frame for transmission through the Switch Fabric.

Abstract: A chassis with an adaptive fan control is provided for electronic equipment. The adaptive fan control is responsive to at least one condition within one or more airflow sections within the chassis and may increase or decrease airflow in response to the condition.

Abstract: A computer network switch system is disclosed. A switch system may be configured as a single chassis system that has at least one line card, a set of active switch fabric cards to concurrently carry network traffic; and a first system control card to provide control functionality for the line card. The switch system may be configured as a multiple chassis system that has at least one line card chassis containing several line cards, and a switch fabric chassis (or a second line card chassis) that contains several switch fabric cards to provide a switching fabric with multiple ports. Load-sharing is accomplished primarily at the chip level, although card-level load-sharing is possible.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and apparatus for ensuring the unique zoning membership representation in a network environment. In one aspect, the members of a container may be evaluated to determine whether any are subordinate to or children of a target member of the same container. The subordinate or child members may be removed from the container's configuration. Generally following the removal of any subordinate or child members of the target member, a determination may be made as to whether the target member is a child of or subordinate to any container members remaining in the container's configuration. If the target member is determined to be subordinate to or a child of a remaining container member, the target member may be removed from the container's configuration. Consequently, redundant member entries, unintentional communication paths and the complexities associated with creating a zoning configuration may be avoided.

Abstract: A system and method for providing flow control for a computer network is disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, buffer-to-buffer credit flow control is implemented to limit the amount of data a port may send based on the number and size of the frames sent from that port.

Abstract: A system and method for providing XON/XOFF port-level flow control for a computer network that has access to a plurality of network processors in communication with the computer network. At least one network processor has an egress port associated with an egress buffer, and a set of network processors is associated with a bridge.. XON/XOFF port-level flow control is implemented to halt and resume traffic directed to a congested port.

Abstract: A heterogeneous and scalable bridge capable of translating a plurality of network protocols is adapted for coupling to a network switch fabric. The bridge uses at least one egress buffer interface and can perform port aggregation and bandwidth matching for various different port standards. The bridge is adapted for both networking and storage area networking protocols. A control unit is implemented with the bridge is able to identify control and flow information from different protocols and adapt them to the respective interface to which they are to be transmitted.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for an efficiently performing address lookups and switching for computer networks is disclosed. The present disclosure provides for address translation between network devices utilizing different protocols. The system, apparatus and method described herein provide for address translation for encapsulated communications to enable mixed protocol communications using a network switch fabric system.