Abstract: A system and method for interconnecting physical channels is provided. The system includes a port containing an optical receiver, a port control module, a route determination module, and a connectivity module. The port control module is operably connected to a first physical channel to receive a Fibre Channel frame comprising data and a data header. The route determination module selects a route between the port control module and the second physical channel according to the data header. The connectivity module is operably connected to the port control module and to the route determination module. The connectivity apparatus may switch frames between the port control module and the second physical channel under control of the route determination module in order to transfer Fibre Channel frames to the second physical channel.

Abstract: A system and method for interconnecting multiple communication interfaces is provided. The system includes a router comprising a fabric controller. The fabric controller is operable to communicate with a plurality of ports, each port having an associated physical address. The plurality of physical addresses is divided into a plurality of non-overlapping address sets. The router is operable to communicate with two or more devices during the same time period, each device being attached to a different port in the plurality of ports.

Abstract: A system and method for interconnecting Ethernet and fiber channel is provided. The system includes a port containing an optical receiver, a port control module, a route determination module, and a connectivity module. The port control module is operably connected to the port and may perform 8B/10B encoding and decoding. The route determination module selects a route between the port control module and the Ethernet link. The connectivity module is operably connected to the port control module and to the route determination module. The connectivity apparatus may switch frames between the port control module and the Ethernet link under control of the route determination module in order to transfer Fiber Channel frames to the Ethernet link.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems for routing data. One embodiment comprises a filter mask and route determination logic. The filter mask is operable to produce a filter value from the data. Then, the route determination logic may determine where the data is to be accepted or rejected based on rules associated with the filter value. Accepted data is prioritized and associated with a particular path in a plurality of paths.

Abstract: A system and method for interconnecting multiple communication interfaces is provided. The system includes a port, a transmission layer module and a signaling layer module. The port communicates data over a first interface. The port is one of a plurality of ports operable to communicate data over the first interface. Each port in the plurality of ports is addressed by one a plurality of physical addresses. One or more of the plurality of ports may simultaneously communicate with a control port over the first interface. The transmission layer module is connected to the port and is operable to enable the port to communicate data with the control port. The signaling layer module is connected to the transmission layer module and is operable to enable data communication with a second interface. The second interface may be an Ethernet port. The first interface and the second interface may operate at different speeds.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for forwarding Fiber Channel Initialization Protocol (FIP) and Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) frames by a FCoE device interconnection apparatus (FIA) and a Fiber Channel over Ethernet device interconnection apparatus controller (FIAC). In one aspect of the invention, a command is sent from a FIAC to the FIA to set the frame processing apparatus to identify received FIP frames, which are forwarded with the original destination and source Ethernet Media Access Control (MAC) addresses. A command is sent from the FIAC to the FIA to identify received FCoE frames to replace the source and destination Ethernet MAC addresses. When a FCoE frame is received by the FIA, the source and destination Ethernet MAC addresses are replaced, such as where the destination Ethernet MAC address of the received matched FCoE frame is replaced by the MAC address assigned to the desired end port. The FCoE frame is forwarded to a destination FCoE device.

Abstract: A system and method for data communication is provided. The system includes a first port, a transmission layer module and a signaling layer module. The transmission layer module supports a first priority and a second priority. The signaling layer module can route data between the first port and a second port and can route data between the first port and a third port. The signaling layer module supports alternate routing if one or both of the second port and the third port fail.

Abstract: A system and method for routing frames to one or more loops is provided. The system includes a processor operable to receive a frame and a storage device operable to store instructions. The instructions may enable the processor to forward the frame according to an address field of the frame. The processor may forward the frame to a first loop if the address field of the frame is associated with the first loop. The processor may forward the frame to a second loop if the address field of the frame is associated with the second loop. The processor may also reject and discard the frame based on the address field of the frame.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for forwarding Fibre Channel Initialization Protocol (FIP) frames and Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) frames by a FCoE device interconnection apparatus (FIA) and with a Fibre Channel over Ethernet device interconnection apparatus controller (FIAC). An FCoE frame received by the FIA from the FCoE device includes at least destination and source Ethernet MAC address fields which are replaced, such as where the destination Ethernet MAC address is replaced by the MAC address assigned to a remote FCoE device, such as the desired end port. The frame is forwarded to the destination FCoE device. Preferably, first and second ports are coupled to the connectivity apparatus, which are then coupled to first and second FCoE devices.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for creating virtual links between Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) nodes. FIP Discovery Advertisement frames are received from multiple FCoE device interconnection apparatus (FIA). The FIP Discovery Advertisement frames comprises source Ethernet MAC addresses, a destination Ethernet MAC address of All-ENode-MACs, Fabric FIP descriptor, and a Priority FIP descriptor. A list is stored of one or more of the source Ethernet MAC address, FIP Priority descriptor, and FIP Fabric descriptor for each unique FTP Discovery Advertisement frame received as indicated by the Fabric descriptor. The Name Server is queried for each source Ethernet MAC address in said storage. For all FCoE devices that match in more that one Name Server, connect to those FCoE devices using the highest priority Ethernet MAC address from matching list items.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for processing Fibre Channel Fabric Login frames by a FCoE device interconnection apparatus (FIA) and a FCoE device interconnection apparatus controller (FIAC). A Fabric Login (FLOGI) Fibre Channel frame is encapsulated into a Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) FIP FLOGI frame at a Fibre Channel device interconnection apparatus (FIA). The encapsulated frame is transmitted from the FIA to a FCoE device interconnection apparatus controller (FIAC). A FIP link service accept (LS_ACC) frame is transmitted by the FIAC to the FIA, and the FIP LS_ACC frame is received by the FIA. The FIP frame is decapsulated into a Fibre Channel LS_ACC frame at the FIA. The Fibre Channel LS_ACC frame is transmitted back to the said Fibre Channel device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for processing Fibre Channel Fabric Login frames by a FCoE device interconnection apparatus (FIA) and a FCoE device interconnection apparatus controller (FIAC). A Fabric Login (FLOGI) Fibre Channel frame is encapsulated into a Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) FIP FLOGI frame at a Fibre Channel device interconnection apparatus (FIA). The encapsulated frame is transmitted from the FIA to a FCoE device interconnection apparatus controller (FIAC). A FIP link service accept (LS_ACC) frame is transmitted by the FIAC to the FIA, and the FIP LS_ACC frame is received by the FIA. The FIP frame is decapsulated into a Fibre Channel LS_ACC frame at the FIA. The Fibre Channel LS_ACC frame is transmitted back to the said Fibre Channel device.

Abstract: A system and method for connecting Ethernet networks is provided. The system includes a port, a port control module, and a connectivity module. The port control module supports a first link speed and can transfer data to ports that support a second or third link speed. The connectivity module can affect the transfer of data between the first port and at least one other port. The connectivity module supports a fixed data transfer rate.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for forwarding Fibre Channel Initialization Protocol (FIP) frames and Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) frames by a FCoE device interconnection apparatus (FIA) and with a Fibre Channel over Ethernet device interconnection apparatus controller (FIAC). An FCoE frame received by the FIA from the FCoE device includes at least destination and source Ethernet MAC address fields which are replaced, such as where the destination Ethernet MAC address is replaced by the MAC address assigned to a remote FCoE device, such as the desired end port. The frame is forwarded to the destination FCoE device. Preferably, first and second ports are coupled to the connectivity apparatus, which are then coupled to first and second FCoE devices.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for processing Fibre Channel Fabric Login frames by a FCoE device interconnection apparatus (FIA) and a FCoE device interconnection apparatus controller (FIAC). A Fabric Login (FLOGI) Fibre Channel frame is encapsulated into a Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) FIP FLOGI frame at a Fibre Channel device interconnection apparatus (FIA). The encapsulated frame is transmitted from the FIA to a FCoE device interconnection apparatus controller (FIAC). A FIP link service accept (LS_ACC) frame is transmitted by the FIAC to the FIA, and the FIP LS_ACC frame is received by the FIA. The FIP frame is decapsulated into a Fibre Channel LS_ACC frame at the FIA. The Fibre Channel LS_ACC frame is transmitted back to the said Fibre Channel device.

Abstract: Methods are provided for creating virtual links between Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) nodes. FIP Discovery Advertisement frames are received from multiple FCoE device interconnection apparatus (FIA). The FIP Discovery Advertisement frames comprises source Ethernet MAC addresses, a destination Ethernet MAC address of All-ENode-MACs, Fabric FIP descriptor, and a Priority FIP descriptor. A list is stored of one or more of the source Ethernet MAC address, FIP Priority descriptor, and FIP Fabric descriptor for each unique FIP Discovery Advertisement frame received as indicated by the Fabric descriptor. The Name Server is queried for each source Ethernet MAC address in said storage. For all FCoE devices that match in more that one Name Server, connect to those FCoE devices using the highest priority Ethernet MAC address from matching list items.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods are provided for interconnection of one or more Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) devices. The system preferably comprises a virtualized or virtual server which in turn comprises a virtual machine having an FCoE device interconnection apparatus controller, a virtual switch, the virtual switch being coupled to the FCoE device interconnection apparatus controller, and a network interface. The network interface is coupled to the virtual switch, which in turn couples to an Ethernet fabric. A first Ethernet link couples the network interface to the Ethernet fabric. One or more Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) devices are coupled to the Ethernet fabric via Ethernet links.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for communicating Fibre Channel frames between a private loop device and an Ethernet link through a Fibre Channel private loop device interconnect system. In the preferred embodiments, the Fibre Channel private loop device interconnect system is a fabric or an intelligent bridging hub. In one aspect of this invention, a Fibre Channel private loop device is storage device which contains JBODsd or RAIDs. Preferably, the interconnect system includes a routing filter to filter incoming Arbitrated Loop physical addresses (ALPAs) to determine which Fibre Channel frames must attempt to be routed through the fabric. Numerous topologies of interconnect systems may be achieved.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for communicating Fibre Channel frames between a private loop device and an Ethernet link through a Fibre Channel private loop device interconnect system. In the preferred embodiments, the Fibre Channel private loop device interconnect system is a fabric or an intelligent bridging hub. In one aspect of this invention, a Fibre Channel private loop device is storage device which contains JBODsd or RAIDs. Preferably, the interconnect system includes a routing filter to filter incoming Arbitrated Loop physical addresses (ALPAs) to determine which Fibre Channel frames must attempt to be routed through the fabric. Numerous topologies of interconnect systems may be achieved.

Abstract: The Fibre Channel standard was created by the American National Standard for Information Systems (ANSI) X3T11 task group to define a serial I/O channel for interconnecting a number of heterogeneous peripheral devices to computer systems as well as interconnecting the computer systems themselves through optical fiber and copper media at gigabit speeds (i.e., one billion bits per second). Multiple protocols such as SCSI (Small Computer Serial Interface), IP (Internet Protocol), HIPPI, ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) among others can concurrently utilize the same media when mapped over Fibre Channel. A Fibre Channel Fabric is an entity which transmits Fibre Channel frames between connected Node Ports. The Fibre Channel fabric routes the frames based on the destination address as well as other information embedded in the Fibre Channel frame header. Node Ports are attached to the Fibre Channel Fabric through links.