Abstract: An Ethernet SAN system includes an initiator device and a target device coupled together by an Ethernet fabric that includes a plurality of Ethernet switch devices. The Ethernet switch devices exchange L2 FIP domain exchange multicast frames that include domain information associated with each of the Ethernet switch devices. That domain information is then used to exchange L2 FIP path exchange multicast frames that include path information associated with each of the Ethernet switch devices. That path information is then used to calculate path costs associated with at least some of the Ethernet switch devices. Those path costs are then used to exchange L2 FIP device exchange unicast frames that include device information associated with the initiator device and the target device. The Ethernet switch devices then transmit data between the initiator device and the target device based on the device information and the path costs.

Abstract: A managed boot process system includes a management device coupled to a networking device through a network. The networking device includes a storage system with an assured boot image, a plurality of runtime images, and a plurality of session data, and a memory system having boot instructions. A processing system in the networking device stores the plurality of session details in the storage system during a management session with the management device and prior to a reboot. The processing system then performs a reboot and executes the boot instructions to load the assured boot image. The networking device then uses the session details to restart the management session without reauthorization subsequent to loading the assured boot image and prior to loading a runtime image. The networking device then provides a graphical user interface over the network to the management device and uses it to receive a management instruction for execution.

Abstract: A FC system includes an FC switch that receives local device FLOGIs that identify local devices through a first subset of ports, and provides a local address in a mapping database for each of the identified local devices. The FC switch then transmits an FC switch FLOGI using a second subset of ports through which no local device fabric login was received, and determines whether a FLOGI ACC has been received back. If a FLOGI ACC is received, the FC switch provides a fabric address in the mapping database for each of the identified local devices, and uses the local addresses/fabric addresses for each respective identified local device to provide communications between the identified local devices and an FC fabric. If no fabric login acceptance is received, the FC networking device uses the local addresses for respective identified local devices to provide communications between the identified local devices.

Abstract: A FC system includes an FC switch that receives local device FLOGIs that identify local devices through a first subset of ports, and provides a local address in a mapping database for each of the identified local devices. The FC switch then transmits an FC switch FLOGI using a second subset of ports through which no local device fabric login was received, and determines whether a FLOGI ACC has been received back. If a FLOGI ACC is received, the FC switch provides a fabric address in the mapping database for each of the identified local devices, and uses the local addresses/fabric addresses for each respective identified local device to provide communications between the identified local devices and an FC fabric. If no fabric login acceptance is received, the FC networking device uses the local addresses for respective identified local devices to provide communications between the identified local devices.

Abstract: An Ethernet switch includes an Ethernet processing system. Layer two (L2) forwarding tables are provided with the Ethernet processing system, and a memory system is coupled to the Ethernet processing system and includes Ethernet processing system software. A control subsystem establishes communication with the Ethernet processing system and modifies the L2 forwarding tables by removing default Ethernet entries, adding Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) formatted FC well know addresses (WKAs), and setting the one or more L2 forwarding tables to remain persistent. The control subsystem also instructs the Ethernet processing system to forward FC control frames to the control subsystem, and replaces first link state instructions in the Ethernet processing system software with second link state instructions to change Ethernet behavior to FC behavior. The control subsystem may then process FC information in received FCoE format Ethernet frames.

Abstract: An Ethernet SAN system includes an initiator device and a target device coupled together by an Ethernet fabric that includes a plurality of Ethernet switch devices. The Ethernet switch devices exchange L2 FIP domain exchange multicast frames that include domain information associated with each of the Ethernet switch devices. That domain information is then used to exchange L2 FIP path exchange multicast frames that include path information associated with each of the Ethernet switch devices. That path information is then used to calculate path costs associated with at least some of the Ethernet switch devices. Those path costs are then used to exchange L2 FIP device exchange unicast frames that include device information associated with the initiator device and the target device. The Ethernet switch devices then transmit data between the initiator device and the target device based on the device information and the path costs.

Abstract: A Fiber Channel (FC) switch system includes a server IHS and a storage IHS that each communicate using an FC protocol. A switch IHS couples the server IHS to the storage IHS. A first converter in the switch IHS receives first FC data traffic from the server IHS and converts it to first FC over Ethernet (FCoE) data traffic. A protocol processing engine in the switch IHS is coupled to the first converter and receives the first FCoE data traffic from the first converter and processes it to provide second FCoE data traffic for delivery to the storage IHS. A second converter in the switch IHS is coupled to the protocol processing engine and the storage IHS and receives the second FCoE data traffic from the protocol processing engine, converts it to second FC data traffic, and sends the second FC data traffic to the storage IHS.

Abstract: An information handling system (IHS) network includes a server IHS and a Fiber Channel (FC) switch IHS that are each directly connected a FC gateway. The FC gateway is configured to establish communication with the FC switch IHS. The FC gateway then receives one of an FCoE Initialization Protocol (FIP) fabric login message and a FIP fabric discovery message from the server IHS and, in response, provides a FCoE fabric discovery message and converts the FCoE fabric discovery message to an FC fabric discovery message that is provided to the FC switch IHS. The FC gateway also receive a FC fabric discovery accept message from the FC switch IHS, converts the FC fabric discovery accept message to an FCoE fabric discovery accept message, and provides one of a FIP fabric login accept message and a FIP fabric discovery accept message to the server IHS.

Abstract: An FCoE forwarding system includes a non-FCoE-enabled networking device coupled between a source device and an FC device and including a plurality of L3 forwarding tables. The non-FCoE-enabled networking device receives a first communication from the source device and determines that the first communication includes a first FCoE frame. The non-FCoE-enabled networking device then retrieves first data from a first standard IP frame location in the first FCoE frame, second data from a second standard IP frame location in the first FCoE frame, and third data from a third standard IP frame location in the first FCoE frame, and uses the first data to reference a first L3 forwarding table of the plurality of L3 forwarding tables. The first non-FCoE-enabled networking device then uses the first L3 forwarding table with the second data and the third data to forward the first FCoE frame on to the FC device.

Abstract: An FCoE forwarding system includes a non-FCoE-enabled networking device coupled between a source device and an FC device and including a plurality of L3 forwarding tables. The non-FCoE-enabled networking device receives a first communication from the source device and determines that the first communication includes a first FCoE frame. The non-FCoE-enabled networking device then retrieves first data from a first standard IP frame location in the first FCoE frame, second data from a second standard IP frame location in the first FCoE frame, and third data from a third standard IP frame location in the first FCoE frame, and uses the first data to reference a first L3 forwarding table of the plurality of L3 forwarding tables. The first non-FCoE-enabled networking device then uses the first L3 forwarding table with the second data and the third data to forward the first FCoE frame on to the FC device.

Abstract: A managed boot process system includes a management device coupled to a networking device through a network. The networking device includes a storage system with an assured boot image, a plurality of runtime images, and a plurality of session data, and a memory system having boot instructions. A processing system in the networking device stores the plurality of session details in the storage system during a management session with the management device and prior to a reboot. The processing system then performs a reboot and executes the boot instructions to load the assured boot image. The networking device then uses the session details to restart the management session without reauthorization subsequent to loading the assured boot image and prior to loading a runtime image. The networking device then provides a graphical user interface over the network to the management device and uses it to receive a management instruction for execution.

Abstract: An FCoE switch system includes a switch IHS that is directly connected to a first endpoint IHS through a first edge port and to a second endpoint IHS through a second edge port. The switch IHS is receives an FCoE communication through the first edge port from the first endpoint IHS that includes an FC header, a source MAC address, and a destination MAC address. The switch IHS then creates a derived MAC address using information included in the FC header, and replaces the destination MAC address in the FCoE communication with the derived MAC address. In response to determining that the second endpoint is directly connected to the second edge port, the switch IHS replaces the source MAC address in the FCoE communication with a local FCF-MAC address. The switch IHS then forwards the first FCoE communication to the second endpoint IHS through the second edge port.

Abstract: An FCoE switch system includes a switch IHS that is directly connected to a first endpoint IHS through a first edge port and to a second endpoint IHS through a second edge port. The switch IHS is receives an FCoE communication through the first edge port from the first endpoint IHS that includes an FC header, a source MAC address, and a destination MAC address. The switch IHS then creates a derived MAC address using information included in the FC header, and replaces the destination MAC address in the FCoE communication with the derived MAC address. In response to determining that the second endpoint is directly connected to the second edge port, the switch IHS replaces the source MAC address in the FCoE communication with a local FCF-MAC address. The switch IHS then forwards the first FCoE communication to the second endpoint IHS through the second edge port.

Abstract: An Ethernet switch includes an Ethernet processing system. Layer two (L2) forwarding tables are provided with the Ethernet processing system, and a memory system is coupled to the Ethernet processing system and includes Ethernet processing system software. A control subsystem establishes communication with the Ethernet processing system and modifies the L2 forwarding tables by removing default Ethernet entries, adding Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) formatted FC well know addresses (WKAs), and setting the one or more L2 forwarding tables to remain persistent. The control subsystem also instructs the Ethernet processing system to forward FC control frames to the control subsystem, and replaces first link state instructions in the Ethernet processing system software with second link state instructions to change Ethernet behavior to FC behavior. The control subsystem may then process FC information in received FCoE format Ethernet frames.

Abstract: A Fibre Channel (FC) switch system includes a server IHS and a storage IHS that each communicate using an FC protocol. A switch IHS couples the server IHS to the storage IHS. A first converter in the switch IHS receives first FC data traffic from the server IHS and converts it to first FC over Ethernet (FCoE) data traffic. A protocol processing engine in the switch IHS is coupled to the first converter and receives the first FCoE data traffic from the first converter and processes it to provide second FCoE data traffic for delivery to the storage IHS. A second converter in the switch IHS is coupled to the protocol processing engine and the storage IHS and receives the second FCoE data traffic from the protocol processing engine, converts it to second FC data traffic, and sends the second FC data traffic to the storage IHS.

Abstract: An information handling system (IHS) network includes a server IHS and a Fibre Channel (FC) switch IHS that are each directly connected a FC gateway. The FC gateway is configured to establish communication with the FC switch IHS. The FC gateway then receives one of an FCoE Initialization Protocol (FIP) fabric login message and a FIP fabric discovery message from the server IHS and, in response, provides a FCoE fabric discovery message and converts the FCoE fabric discovery message to an FC fabric discovery message that is provided to the FC switch IHS. The FC gateway also receive a FC fabric discovery accept message from the FC switch IHS, converts the FC fabric discovery accept message to an FCoE fabric discovery accept message, and provides one of a FIP fabric login accept message and a FIP fabric discovery accept message to the server IHS.

Abstract: A IHS network includes a first switch having first switch ports and a respective visual port indicator associated with each of the first switch ports. A second switch having second switch ports is included in the IHS network, and at least one interconnect connects one of the second switch ports to one of the first switch ports on the first switch. A fabric manager is coupled to the IHS network and operable to communicate with the first switch and the second switch to determine that one of the first switch ports on the first switch is that associated with a fabric interconnect error. The fabric manager then communicates with the first switch to cause the respective visual first switch port indicator that is associated with the one of the first switch ports that is associated with the fabric interconnect error to visually indicate the fabric interconnect error.