Abstract: A Fibre Channel Forwarder (FCF) port auto-configuration system includes a Fibre Channel (FC) networking device and an FCF device that includes a plurality of ports. The FCF devices configures, in response to a link being established on a first port of the plurality of ports, the first port as a first type port that indicates that the first port is connected to a second type port on the FC networking device. The FCF device provides a first fabric login through the first type port. In response to the FCF device not receiving an acceptance of the first fabric login after a first predetermined time threshold, the FCF device configures the first port as the second type port.

Abstract: A Fibre Channel Forwarder (FCF) routing system includes an FCF device that is coupled to a Fibre Channel (FC) networking device through a first FCF device port, coupled to a source device through a second FCF device port, and coupled to a first destination device through a third FCF device port. The FCF device receives first traffic from the source device at the second FCF device port. Using a first FCF device routing table, the FCF device determines that a destination device identifier included in the first traffic corresponds with the first destination device. In response determining the destination device identifier included in the first traffic corresponds with the first destination device, the FCF device routes the first traffic through the third FCF device port to the first destination device without forwarding the first traffic through the first FCF device port to the FC networking device.

Abstract: A Fibre Channel Forwarder (FCF) load balancing system includes a Fibre Channel Forwarder (FCF) device that is coupled to a Fibre Channel (FC) networking device and the first server device. The FCF device groups a first link between the FC networking device and the FCF device with a second link between the FC networking device and the FCF device in response to receiving both a first fabric login accept on the first link that includes a first Worldwide Name (WWN) and a second fabric login accept on the second link that includes the first WWN. The FCF device provides at least a portion of traffic, received from the first server device that is logged in through the first link, through the second link.

Abstract: A registered state change notification system includes a switch device that is coupled to a plurality of end devices to provide a fabric. An application executing on the switch device detects a change that is associated with a zone in the fabric that includes a plurality of end devices and, in response, generates a multicast Registered State Change Notification (RSCN) that includes a Zone Fiber Channel Identifier (FCID) that is associated with the zone. Subsequently and without the use of the application, multicast hardware included in the switch device sends the multicast RSCN including the Zone FCID to at least a subset of the plurality of end devices.

Abstract: A registered state change notification system includes a switch device that is coupled to a plurality of end devices to provide a fabric. An application executing on the switch device detects a change that is associated with a zone in the fabric that includes a plurality of end devices and, in response, generates a multicast Registered State Change Notification (RSCN) that includes a Zone Fibre Channel Identifier (FCID) that is associated with the zone. Subsequently and without the use of the application, multicast hardware included in the switch device sends the multicast RSCN including the Zone FCID to at least a subset of the plurality of end devices.

Abstract: Embodiments for connecting a host device to target devices in a network through a switch of a plurality of switches, by: defining a special zone for targets that are not directly connected to the switch having the host; directly through the switch; discovering all targets connected to all ports of switch and other switches through a device discovery process; creating a switch-to-target mapping table for all discovered targets; sending a virtual discovery command to all the discovered host-target pairs using the switch-to-target mapping table; creating a virtual address translation table that maps an ID and address of the host to virtual IDs and addresses assigned for network ports of each host-target pairs; and transmitting network traffic between the host and target using the virtual address translation table.

Abstract: Embodiments for connecting a host device to target devices in a network through a switch of a plurality of switches, by: defining a special zone for targets that are not directly connected to the switch having the host; directly through the switch; discovering all targets connected to all ports of switch and other switches through a device discovery process; creating a switch-to-target mapping table for all discovered targets; sending a virtual discovery command to all the discovered host-target pairs using the switch-to-target mapping table; creating a virtual address translation table that maps an ID and address of the host to virtual IDs and addresses assigned for network ports of each host-target pairs; and transmitting network traffic between the host and target using the virtual address translation table.

Abstract: A link aggregated FCoE system includes a target device, a first FCF device coupled to the target device and a LAG, and a second FCF device coupled to the LAG and to the first FCF device by an ICL. The first and second FCF devices are each associated with a common FCF MAC address. The first FCF device receives, through the LAG, first FCoE data traffic directed to the common FCF MAC address and including a target device destination identifier and, in response, forwards the first FCoE data traffic to the target. The second FCF device receives, through the LAG, second FCoE data traffic directed to the common FCF MAC address and including the target device destination identifier and, in response, forwards the second FCoE data traffic to the first FCF device so that the first FCF device may forward the second FCoE data traffic to the target device.