Abstract: The present invention enables the coupling and decoupling of multiple processing devices to a network without disrupting the network. In an embodiment, the invention provides a switch having a network port and several initiator ports each configured for coupling to a processing device. The switch is configured to route data from the network port to the initiator ports and from the initiator ports to the network port. A management agent facilitates operation of the switch by processing port initializations, replying to device registration requests, and processing predetermined unsolicited discovery commands. During operation, the management agent enables configuration changes caused, for example, by the coupling and/or decoupling of processing device to initiator ports. Each processing device coupled to one of the initiator ports operates without knowledge of the management agent, as if coupled directly to the network.

Abstract: A method and system for connecting multiple initiators to a storage area network (SAN) via a Fibre channel fabric using a single N_port fibre channel switch. The multiple initiators are associated with a common domain identification (DID), each initiator having a unique source identification (SID). The method includes initiating a communication exchange between at least one of the initiators and the SAN, the exchange including transmission of a command frame. The method also includes monitoring the initiated exchange communication exchange, and replacing the unique SID of one of the initiators with an SID of the fibre channel switch.

Abstract: A method and system for allocating exchange identifications (IDs) in a fibre channel switch for fibre channel aggregation. The method included determining a number (m) of N_ports present in a back end of the switch, and distributing available exchange IDs across the number (m) of present N_ports. Each exchange ID includes (j) bits and (n) bits are used to identify each of the present backend ports, where m?2n.

Abstract: The present invention enables the coupling and decoupling of multiple processing devices to a network without disrupting the network. In an embodiment, the invention provides a switch having a network port and several initiator ports each configured for coupling to a processing device. The switch is configured to route data from the network port to the initiator ports and from the initiator ports to the network port. A management agent facilitates operation of the switch by processing port initializations, replying to device registration requests, and processing predetermined unsolicited discovery commands. During operation, the management agent enables configuration changes caused, for example, by the coupling and/or decoupling of processing device to initiator ports.