Abstract: A storage system is provided. The storage system includes a first storage cluster, the first storage cluster having a first plurality of storage nodes coupled together and a second storage cluster, the second storage cluster having a second plurality of storage nodes coupled together. The system includes an interconnect coupling the first storage cluster and the second storage cluster and a first pathway coupling the interconnect to each storage cluster. The system includes a second pathway, the second pathway coupling at least one fabric module within a chassis to each blade within the chassis.

Abstract: A method of address resolution broadcasting in a networked device is provided. The method includes receiving, at a switch fabric of the networked device, an address resolution request from one of a plurality of nodes of the networked device and substituting, as a source address, a cluster MAC address for a MAC address of the one of the plurality of nodes in the address resolution request. The method includes sending the address resolution request over a network and receiving, at the switch fabric, an address resolution reply over the network. The method includes substituting, as a destination address, an address for transmission to each of the plurality of nodes for the cluster MAC address in the address resolution reply, and transmitting the address resolution reply to the plurality of nodes.

Abstract: A method of resetting a stateful connection in a storage cluster with stateless load-balancing is provided. The method includes receiving a packet associated with a stateful connection between a client and a first storage node of the storage cluster. The method includes sending a reset packet from a second storage node to the client, through a stateless load balancer, responsive to the second storage node failing to recognize the packet associated with the stateful connection between the client and the first storage node, wherein the client resets the stateful connection responsive to receiving the reset packet. The method includes sending further reset packets from the load balancer to a plurality of storage nodes of the storage cluster, responsive to receiving, at the load balancer, the reset packet from the second storage node, wherein the plurality of storage nodes reset stateful connection information responsive to receiving the further reset packets.

Abstract: A storage system is provided. The storage system includes a first storage cluster, the first storage cluster having a first plurality of storage nodes coupled together and a second storage cluster, the second storage cluster having a second plurality of storage nodes coupled together. The system includes an interconnect coupling the first storage cluster and the second storage cluster and a first pathway coupling the interconnect to each storage cluster. The system includes a second pathway, the second pathway coupling at least one fabric module within a chassis to each blade within the chassis.

Abstract: A storage system is provided. The storage system includes a first storage cluster, the first storage cluster having a first plurality of storage nodes coupled together and a second storage cluster, the second storage cluster having a second plurality of storage nodes coupled together. The system includes an interconnect coupling the first storage cluster and the second storage cluster and a first pathway coupling the interconnect to each storage cluster. The system includes a second pathway, the second pathway coupling at least one fabric module within a chassis to each blade within the chassis.

Abstract: A storage system is provided. The storage system includes a first storage cluster, the first storage cluster having a first plurality of storage nodes coupled together and a second storage cluster, the second storage cluster having a second plurality of storage nodes coupled together. The system includes an interconnect coupling the first storage cluster and the second storage cluster and a first pathway coupling the interconnect to each storage cluster. The system includes a second pathway, the second pathway coupling at least one fabric module within a chassis to each blade within the chassis.

Abstract: A method of resetting a stateful connection in a storage cluster with stateless load-balancing is provided. The method includes receiving a packet associated with a stateful connection between a client and a first storage node of the storage cluster. The method includes sending a reset packet from a second storage node to the client, through a stateless load balancer, responsive to the second storage node failing to recognize the packet associated with the stateful connection between the client and the first storage node, wherein the client resets the stateful connection responsive to receiving the reset packet. The method includes sending further reset packets from the load balancer to a plurality of storage nodes of the storage cluster, responsive to receiving, at the load balancer, the reset packet from the second storage node, wherein the plurality of storage nodes reset stateful connection information responsive to receiving the further reset packets.

Abstract: A method of resetting a stateful connection in a storage cluster with stateless load-balancing is provided. The method includes receiving a packet associated with a stateful connection between a client and a first storage node of the storage cluster. The method includes sending a reset packet from a second storage node to the client, through a stateless load balancer, responsive to the second storage node failing to recognize the packet associated with the stateful connection between the client and the first storage node, wherein the client resets the stateful connection responsive to receiving the reset packet. The method includes sending further reset packets from the load balancer to a plurality of storage nodes of the storage cluster, responsive to receiving, at the load balancer, the reset packet from the second storage node, wherein the plurality of storage nodes reset stateful connection information responsive to receiving the further reset packets.

Abstract: A method for network communication is provided. The method includes assigning a first network port identifier for return communication to a packet that originates on a node of the network device and determining whether the packet has a destination internal or external to the network device. The method includes translating the first network port identifier for return communication to a second network port identifier that is within a range of network port identifiers specific to the node, responsive to determining the packet has the external destination, and sending the packet from the node of the network device to the external destination, with the packet having the second network port identifier for return communication.

Abstract: A method of stateful load balancing, performed by a storage system is provided. The method includes obtaining a request identifier for a request received by the storage system through a network and calculating a version identifier for provider selection, based on the request identifier. The method includes determining a provider for the request, based on the request identifier and the version identifier, and sending the request to one of a plurality of nodes of the storage system as the determined provider.

Abstract: A method of address resolution broadcasting in a networked device is provided. The method includes receiving, at a switch fabric of the networked device, an address resolution request from one of a plurality of nodes of the networked device and substituting, as a source address, a cluster MAC address for a MAC address of the one of the plurality of nodes in the address resolution request. The method includes sending the address resolution request over a network and receiving, at the switch fabric, an address resolution reply over the network. The method includes substituting, as a destination address, an address for transmission to each of the plurality of nodes for the cluster MAC address in the address resolution reply, and transmitting the address resolution reply to the plurality of nodes.

Abstract: A method for network communication is provided. The method includes assigning a first network port identifier for return communication to a packet that originates on a node of the network device and determining whether the packet has a destination internal or external to the network device. The method includes translating the first network port identifier for return communication to a second network port identifier that is within a range of network port identifiers specific to the node, responsive to determining the packet has the external destination, and sending the packet from the node of the network device to the external destination, with the packet having the second network port identifier for return communication.

Abstract: A storage system is provided. The storage system includes a first storage cluster, the first storage cluster having a first plurality of storage nodes coupled together and a second storage cluster, the second storage cluster having a second plurality of storage nodes coupled together. The system includes an interconnect coupling the first storage cluster and the second storage cluster and a first pathway coupling the interconnect to each storage cluster. The system includes a second pathway, the second pathway coupling at least one fabric module within a chassis to each blade within the chassis.

Abstract: A method of resetting a stateful connection in a storage cluster with stateless load-balancing is provided. The method includes receiving a packet associated with a stateful connection between a client and a first storage node of the storage cluster. The method includes sending a reset packet from a second storage node to the client, through a stateless load balancer, responsive to the second storage node failing to recognize the packet associated with the stateful connection between the client and the first storage node, wherein the client resets the stateful connection responsive to receiving the reset packet. The method includes sending further reset packets from the load balancer to a plurality of storage nodes of the storage cluster, responsive to receiving, at the load balancer, the reset packet from the second storage node, wherein the plurality of storage nodes reset stateful connection information responsive to receiving the further reset packets.

Abstract: A method of address resolution broadcasting in a networked device is provided. The method includes receiving, at a switch fabric of the networked device, an address resolution request from one of a plurality of nodes of the networked device and substituting, as a source address, a cluster MAC address for a MAC address of the one of the plurality of nodes in the address resolution request. The method includes sending the address resolution request over a network and receiving, at the switch fabric, an address resolution reply over the network. The method includes substituting, as a destination address, an address for transmission to each of the plurality of nodes for the cluster MAC address in the address resolution reply, and transmitting the address resolution reply to the plurality of nodes.

Abstract: A method of resetting a stateful connection in a storage cluster with stateless load-balancing is provided. The method includes receiving a packet associated with a stateful connection between a client and a first storage node of the storage cluster. The method includes sending a reset packet from a second storage node to the client, through a stateless load balancer, responsive to the second storage node failing to recognize the packet associated with the stateful connection between the client and the first storage node, wherein the client resets the stateful connection responsive to receiving the reset packet. The method includes sending further reset packets from the load balancer to a plurality of storage nodes of the storage cluster, responsive to receiving, at the load balancer, the reset packet from the second storage node, wherein the plurality of storage nodes reset stateful connection information responsive to receiving the further reset packets.

Abstract: A method for efficient data forwarding in a networked device is provided. The method includes receiving a first packet from a first VLAN into a load balancer of the networked device and forwarding the first packet from the load balancer to a second VLAN internal to the networked device, wherein an identity of the first VLAN is unknown as a result of forwarding the packet from the first VLAN to the second VLAN. The method includes determining the identity of the first VLAN, based on a source IP address of the first packet and a map of IP addresses and VLANs. The method includes sending a second packet from one of a plurality of nodes, in response to the receiving, with the source IP address of the first packet as a destination IP address of the second packet and with a field of the second packet identifying the first VLAN.

Abstract: A method for establishing a virtual channel between network devices is disclosed. In the case of a local network device establishing a virtual channel with a remote network device, a virtual channel request message is sent from the local network device to the remote network device. A virtual channel acknowledgement message and a remote capability list are received and a virtual channel resume message and a local capability list are sent. The virtual channel is then enabled. In the case of a remote network device establishing a virtual channel with a local network device, a virtual channel request message is received from a local network device by a remote network device. A virtual channel acknowledgement message and a remote capability list are sent and a virtual channel resume message and a local capability list are received. The virtual channel is then enabled.

Abstract: A method for establishing a virtual channel between network devices is disclosed. In the case of a local network device establishing a virtual channel with a remote network device, a virtual channel request message is sent from the local network device to the remote network device. A virtual channel acknowledgement message and a remote capability list are received and a virtual channel resume message and a local capability list are sent. The virtual channel is then enabled. In the case of a remote network device establishing a virtual channel with a local network device, a virtual channel request message is received from a local network device by a remote network device. A virtual channel acknowledgement message and a remote capability list are sent and a virtual channel resume message and a local capability list are received. The virtual channel is then enabled.

Abstract: Embodiments provide load balancing in a virtual computing environment comprising a plurality of PCI-Express switches (the PCIe switching cloud) coupled to a plurality of network interface devices (NICs). An NIC cluster is added between the PCIe switching cloud and the NICs. The NIC cluster is configured to hide NICs from system images and allow the system images to access functions across multiple NICs. The NIC cluster of an embodiment dynamically load balances network resources by performing a hashing function on a header field of received packets. The NIC cluster of an embodiment performs load balancing and state management in association with driver software, which is embedded in the system image. The driver software adds a tag for flow identification to downstream data packets. The NIC cluster distributes data packets based on information in the tag.