Abstract: A method comprises: at a management entity configured to monitor a transceiver system having a transceiver to receive a signal that conveys data frames transmitted by a peer transceiver over a connection: collecting time series values for operating parameters of the transceiver associated with received data frames, including (i) a receive power, and (ii) counts of different media access control (MAC) layer frame errors that respectively indicate degradation levels for system performance ranked from highest to lowest; using the time series values, performing correlations of the receive power against the counts of the different MAC layer frame errors according to a correlation hierarchy that indicates which of the correlations correspond to which of the degradation levels, to produce correlation results; and responsive to the correlation results, determining a degraded component of the transceiver system.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a FLOGI message sent by a device seeking to log on to a network, wherein the device is in a same zone as reachable devices already logged into the network; in response to the FLOGI message, sending to the device a FC_ID, receiving from the device a query, including the FC_ID, for a list of devices with which the device can communicate, in response to the query, sending to the device an empty list of reachable devices with which the device can communicate within the same zone; after sending the empty list, programming, at least, an access control list (ACL) including information about the device; and after the ACL is programmed, triggering a RSCN message to be sent to the device to cause the device to, for the first time, obtain information about the reachable devices.

Abstract: An initiator emulator is implemented on a control plane of a switch fabric connected to target ports of a storage array having storage configured with logical partitions. After an initiator port of a server logs into the switch fabric and is blocked from discovering the target ports, the initiator emulator, acting as proxy for the initiator port, discovers information that indicates logical partition masking enforced at the target ports for the initiator port. The initiator emulator determines allowed (initiator (I), target (T)) (I, T) port combinations that should be allowed access via the switch fabric based on the information from the discovery. The initiator emulator configures the switch fabric with one or more zones based on the allowed (I, T) port combinations. The initiator emulator then sends to the initiator port an indication of a zone change to the switch fabric.

Abstract: An initiator emulator is implemented on a control plane of a switch fabric connected to target ports of a storage array having storage configured with logical partitions. After an initiator port of a server logs into the switch fabric and is blocked from discovering the target ports, the initiator emulator, acting as proxy for the initiator port, discovers information that indicates logical partition masking enforced at the target ports for the initiator port. The initiator emulator determines allowed (initiator (I), target (T)) (I, T) port combinations that should be allowed access via the switch fabric based on the information from the discovery. The initiator emulator configures the switch fabric with one or more zones based on the allowed (I, T) port combinations. The initiator emulator then sends to the initiator port an indication of a zone change to the switch fabric.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a FLOGI message sent by a device seeking to log on to a network, wherein the device is in a same zone as reachable devices already logged into the network; in response to the FLOGI message, sending to the device a FC_ID, receiving from the device a query, including the FC_ID, for a list of devices with which the device can communicate, in response to the query, sending to the device an empty list of reachable devices with which the device can communicate within the same zone; after sending the empty list, programming, at least, an access control list (ACL) including information about the device; and after the ACL is programmed, triggering a RSCN message to be sent to the device to cause the device to, for the first time, obtain information about the reachable devices.

Abstract: Techniques are provided herein for receiving at a first network device, a virtual local area network (VLAN) discovery frame from a second network device. The second network device is configured to encapsulate Fiber Channel over Ethernet. The hardware media access control (MAC) address or Port World Wide Name (PWWN) of the second network device is extracted from the VLAN discovery frame. A mapping is identified between the second network device and a corresponding virtual storage area network (VSAN) based on the hardware MAC address or PWWN. The mapping identifies a corresponding VLAN for the second network device to use for login in order to communicate with the corresponding VSAN. Information representing the identified VLAN is sent to the second network device.

Abstract: Techniques are provided herein for receiving at a first network device, a virtual local area network (VLAN) discovery frame from a second network device. The second network device is configured to encapsulate Fiber Channel over Ethernet. The hardware media access control (MAC) address or Port World Wide Name (PWWN) of the second network device is extracted from the VLAN discovery frame. A mapping is identified between the second network device and a corresponding virtual storage area network (VSAN) based on the hardware MAC address or PWWN. The mapping identifies a corresponding VLAN for the second network device to use for login in order to communicate with the corresponding VSAN. Information representing the identified VLAN is sent to the second network device.