Abstract: A receiving network device of a network obtains a command built to enable a control program of a device coupled to the receiving network device to provide to the receiving network device status of a key manager. The receiving network device obtains the status from the command and uses the status in performing one or more actions.

Abstract: A receiving network device of a network obtains a command built to enable a control program of a device coupled to the receiving network device to provide to the receiving network device shared confidential data. The receiving network device obtains the shared confidential data from the command and uses the shared confidential data in performing one or more actions.

Abstract: A receiving network device obtains a command built to enable a control program of a device coupled to the receiving network device to obtain power consumption data of one or more selected units of a network. The command includes an indication of the one or more selected units for which the power consumption data is to be obtained. The receiving network device obtains the power consumption data of the one or more selected units indicated by the command and provides a response to the request for the power consumption data of the one or more selected units.

Abstract: A receiving network device obtains a command built to enable a control program of a device coupled to the receiving network device to obtain temperature data of one or more selected units of a network. The command includes an indication of the one or more selected units for which the temperature data is to be obtained. The receiving network device obtains the temperature data of the one or more selected units indicated by the command and provides a response to the request for the temperature data of the one or more selected units.

Abstract: A receiving network device obtains a command built to enable a control program to trigger activation of diagnostics on one or more ports of one or more network devices. The command includes an indication of the one or more ports on which diagnostics is to be activated. The receiving network device initiates triggering activation of diagnostics on the one or more ports indicated by the command, and provides diagnostic status resulting from the activation of diagnostics on the one or more ports.

Abstract: A receiving network device obtains a command built to enable a control program of a device coupled to the receiving network device to obtain optical power data of one or more components of one or more network devices. The command includes an indication of the one or more components for which the optical power data is to be obtained. The receiving network device obtains the optical power data of the one or more components indicated by the command, and provides a response to the request for the optical power data of the one or more components.

Abstract: A receiving network device obtains a command built to enable a control program to initiate a swap of one or more components of a network. The command includes an indication of the one or more components for which the swap is to be initiated. The receiving network device initiates the swap of the one or more components indicated by the command, and provides status resulting from the initiation of the swap of the one or more components.

Abstract: Embodiments include performing a host-initiated link reset in a storage area network (SAN). Aspects include identifying, by a host in communication with the SAN, each link in the SAN, wherein each link is defined by a pair of ports. Aspects also include obtaining, by the host, a buffer credit balance for each port in the SAN and obtaining, by the host, a buffer credit for each port in the SAN and causing a reset of a link associated with the port by transmitting a link reset record from the host to a control device of the link based on a determination that the buffer credit of a port in the SAN is below a threshold value.

Abstract: A port speed of a port of a device is automatically set. A command is obtained at the device. The command provides an indication of a target port of the device and a selected port speed. Based on obtaining the command and using the device, a port speed of the target port is automatically set to the selected port speed.

Abstract: An approach for extending encryption to input/output (I/O) on Peripheral Component Interconnect express (PCIe) links. The approach receives a proposal list of available encryption mechanisms. The approach selects an encryption mechanism from the proposal list, the encryption mechanism performs the encryption without encryption services from an associated Host Bus Adapter (HBA). The approach directs the I/O to the encryption mechanism.

Abstract: A plurality of channels coupling at least one computing device to one or more devices are ranked. The ranking of a channel of the plurality of channels is based on one or more criteria including a size of a path group used to couple the channel to a device of the one or more devices. Based on the ranking, a selected channel of the plurality of channels is selected for which utilization state of the selected channel is to be changed. The utilization state of the selected channel is changed, in runtime, to reduce overall power consumption by the plurality of channels.

Abstract: Aspects include includes receiving, at an input/output (I/O) processor, a transport control word (TCW) that includes an instruction to perform virtual port mirroring. The I/O processor identifies a first port to be mirrored and a virtual port to perform the mirroring. The virtual port is a first memory location in a memory. In response to outbound data being sent to the first port for transmission to a first target device and to the instruction specifying outbound port mirroring, the I/O processor stores a copy of the outbound data in the first memory location. In response to inbound data being received at the first port and to the instruction specifying inbound port mirroring, a copy of the inbound data is stored at the first memory location.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and a computer program product for pending updates status queries in extended link services. A host application on a host device queries an update pending on a target device. The host device constructs a pending update query command for the target device, where the pending update query command includes a descriptor tag, a descriptor length, and a pending update vector. The host device sends the pending update query command to the target device. The host device receives from the target device a response to the pending update query command, where the response includes a link service request information descriptor and a pending update descriptor.

Abstract: An approach for improving endpoint security. The approach requests security capabilities from endpoints of communications. The approach can analyze the differences between the security capabilities of the endpoints. The approach can negotiate a security capability supported by the endpoints of the communication. The approach can determine if the negotiation succeeded. If the negotiation failed, then the approach can create a report describing capabilities of the endpoints and suggesting changes to improve the endpoint security. The approach can send the report to the appropriate interested personnel.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include channel key loading of a host bus adapter (HBA) based on a secure key exchange (SKE) authentication response by a responder node of a computing environment. A non-limiting example computer-implemented method includes receiving an authentication response message at an initiator channel on an initiator node from a responder channel on a responder node to establish a secure communication, the receiving at a local key manager (LKM) executing on the initiator node. A state check can be performed based on a security association of the initiator node and the responder node. An identifier of a selected encryption algorithm can be extracted from the authentication response message. The initiator channel can request to communicate with the responder channel based at least in part on a successful state check and the selected encryption algorithm.

Abstract: An approach for extending encryption to input/output (I/O) on Peripheral Component Interconnect express (PCIe) links. The approach receives a proposal list of available encryption mechanisms. The approach selects an encryption mechanism from the proposal list, the encryption mechanism performs the encryption without encryption services from an associated Host Bus Adapter (HBA). The approach directs the I/O to the encryption mechanism.

Abstract: A packet of data is obtained at one device of a network. A path from the one device to a next device of the network is determined, as well as at least one toll value for the path from the one device to the next device. Based on the at least one toll value for the path from the one device to the next device, a routing toll is adjusted. The routing toll is stored in a frame used in routing the packet of data in the network.

Abstract: Aspects include receiving, at an input/output (I/O) processor, a transport control word (TCW) that includes an instruction to perform physical port mirroring. It is identified, by the I/O processor, a first port to be mirrored and a second port to perform the mirroring. The second port is a physical port on a host bus adapter (HBA). In response to outbound data being sent to the first port for transmission to a first target device and to the instruction specifying outbound port mirroring, the I/O processor sends a copy of the outbound data to a second target device via the second port. In response to receiving inbound data at the first port and to the instruction specifying inbound port mirroring, a copy of the inbound data is transmitted to the second target device via the second port.

Abstract: Techniques for a virtualized fabric name server for a storage area network are described herein. An aspect includes operating a storage area network, the storage area network including a hybrid control plane. Another aspect includes managing, using a virtualized fabric name server and the hybrid control plane, the storage area network, wherein the virtualized fabric name server is disposed in a container that is hosted on an element of the storage area network.

Abstract: Aspects include obtaining data to be transformed. A selected transformation to be applied to the data is determined based on a storage block address list entry (SBALE) in a storage block address list (SBAL). The SBALE includes at least one field that is used in determining the selected transformation to be applied. The selected transformation is applied on the data to generate transformed data and the transformed data is placed in a location specified by the SBAL.