Abstract: Use of a hash operation based on selected information in the packet to select one of a set of enable vectors. The selected enable vector is then effectively ANDed with the link expansion vector to select the actual links to be used. The enable vectors vary by selecting a different link in the LAG port for each enable vector. Thus the hash is used to vary the link of the LAG port used to transmit the packet for that multicast packet.

Abstract: An Ethernet/Fiber Channel network interface device which can be configured by a user to operate on an FC SAN, a CEE network or both. In one embodiment the configuration can be done using jumpers or connections to the pins of a chip, thus allowing a manufacturer to only inventory one device for use with either or both networks. In a second embodiment the configuration can be done in software by setting registers and memory values on the device. This embodiment allows the device to be changed between configurations without removing it from the server or blade. The devices according to the preferred embodiments further reduce power consumption by shutting down portions of the chip not needed based on the configuration of the device.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to mirror frames received at an input port or provided by an output port to a port not connected to the device performing the mirroring operation. A frame being sent to a diagnostic system has a mirror header added to allow the frame to be routed through any intervening switches in the same fabric. The final switch or the diagnostic system removes the mirror header. If the diagnostic system is attached in a different fabric, encapsulation and inter-fabric routing headers are added as needed to the frame containing the mirror header. This allows the frame to traverse multiple fabrics to reach the diagnostic system. The encapsulation and inter-fabric routing headers are removed as done normally. This allows a diagnostic system to be connected to any switch in the network, either in the same or a different fabric.

Abstract: An Ethernet/Fibre Channel network interface device which can be configured by a user to operate on an FC SAN, a CEE network or both. In one embodiment the configuration can be done using jumpers or connections to the pins of a chip, thus allowing a manufacturer to only inventory one device for use with either or both networks. In a second embodiment the configuration can be done in software by setting registers and memory values on the device. This embodiment allows the device to be changed between configurations without removing it from the server or blade. The devices according to the preferred embodiments further reduce power consumption by shutting down portions of the chip not needed based on the configuration of the device.

Abstract: A switch creates and dynamically updates a latency map of a network to adjust routing of flows. Further, the network is monitored to detect latency issues and trigger a dynamic adjustment of routing based on the latency map. In this manner, a flow can be routed along a route (i.e., a faster route) that provides less latency than other available routes. The latency map can be generated based on latency probe packets that are issued from and returned to the source switch. By evaluating many such latent probe packets that have traveled along many available routes (e.g., corresponding to various ports of the switch), the switch or associated administrative logic can dynamically adjust the latency map to updated latency information of available routes. Therefore, responsive to a trigger, the source switch can dynamically adjust the routing of a flow based on latency issues discerned from the network.

Abstract: An Ethernet/Fiber Channel network interface device which can be configured by a user to operate on an FC SAN, a CEE network or both. In one embodiment the configuration can be done using jumpers or connections to the pins of a chip, thus allowing a manufacturer to only inventory one device for use with either or both networks. In a second embodiment the configuration can be done in software by setting registers and memory values on the device. This embodiment allows the device to be changed between configurations without removing it from the server or blade. The devices according to the preferred embodiments further reduce power consumption by shutting down portions of the chip not needed based on the configuration of the device.

Abstract: A network system provides network device having a secondary memory that mirrors the content of a primary memory maintaining data structure parameters entries. The integrity of each data structure parameter entry is tested as the entry is output from the primary memory, such as by using a parity test. If an error is detected in the entry, a corresponding entry from the second memory structure is select for use instead of the entry from the primary memory. The corresponding entries in each memory are then flushed, updated, synchronized, or overwritten from the each memory and processing continues using the new entries or other entries from the primary memory. In the rare instance that corresponding entries from both memories exhibit an error, then an error notification is issued.

Abstract: A bandwidth limiting circuit provides limiting the bandwidth of a group of virtual channels at a transmitting port to a maximum value. A limiting circuit includes a register that is repeatedly incremented with a threshold value, which threshold value is related to the desired maximum bandwidth for the group. The register is decremented by the frame length, in bytes, of the frame transmitted from one of the virtual channels belonging to the group. A comparator enables frame transmission for the group if the register value is greater than zero. A bandwidth guarantee circuit provides at least the bandwidth specified by the limiting circuit. The guarantee circuit enables one of the groups for frame transmission based on a fairness algorithm when the outputs of comparators of each of the limiting circuit are low.

Abstract: A switch creates and dynamically updates a latency map of a network to adjust routing of flows. Further, the network is monitored to detect latency issues and trigger a dynamic adjustment of routing based on the latency map. In this manner, a flow can be routed along a route (i.e., a faster route) that provides less latency than other available routes. The latency map can be generated based on latency probe packets that are issued from and returned to the source switch. By evaluating many such latent probe packets that have traveled along many available routes (e.g., corresponding to various ports of the switch), the switch or associated administrative logic can dynamically adjust the latency map to updated latency information of available routes. Therefore, responsive to a trigger, the source switch can dynamically adjust the routing of a flow based on latency issues discerned from the network.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to mirror frames received at an input port or provided by an output port to a port not connected to the device performing the mirroring operation. A frame being sent to a diagnostic system has a mirror header added to allow the frame to be routed through any intervening switches in the same fabric. The final switch or the diagnostic system removes the mirror header. If the diagnostic system is attached in a different fabric, encapsulation and inter-fabric routing headers are added as needed to the frame containing the mirror header. This allows the frame to traverse multiple fabrics to reach the diagnostic system. The encapsulation and inter-fabric routing headers are removed as done normally. This allows a diagnostic system to be connected to any switch in the network, either in the same or a different fabric.

Abstract: A switch/router dynamically selects a path from multiple available paths between a source destination pair for a frame. A hash function generates a hash value from frame parameters such as source ID, destination ID, exchange ID, etc. The hash value is given as an input to a plurality of range comparators where each range comparator has a range of values associated with it. If the hash value falls within a range associated with a range comparator, that range comparator generates an in-range signal. A path selector module detects which range comparator has generated the in-range signal, and determines a path associated with that range comparator from previously stored information. The frame is transmitted via the selected path. The ranges associated with each range comparator can be non-overlapping and unequal in size. The number of range comparators can be equal to a number of selected multiple paths.

Abstract: Autodetermination circuitry examines packets transmitted internally to an egress port of a switching device in order to learn the associated flow. The autodetermination circuitry maintains a flow memory recording the highest traffic volume flows and unlearns the flows exhibiting lower traffic volumes to make room for other higher traffic volume flows. Accordingly, as some flows decrease in traffic volume and other flows increase in traffic volume, the flows decreasing below a threshold are dropped from a flow memory, and other flows increasing in volume above the threshold are added to the flow memory. In this manner, only the most likely offending flows are maintained in the flow memory. Accordingly, when congestion is detected, the switching device can identify one or more source devices contributing the most to the congestion and take steps to alleviate the congestion by decreasing the traffic volume originating from one or more of those sources.

Abstract: An Ethernet/Fibre Channel network interface device which can be configured by a user to operate on an FC SAN, a CEE network or both. In one embodiment the configuration can be done using jumpers or connections to the pins of a chip, thus allowing a manufacturer to only inventory one device for use with either or both networks. In a second embodiment the configuration can be done in software by setting registers and memory values on the device. This embodiment allows the device to be changed between configurations without removing it from the server or blade. The devices according to the preferred embodiments further reduce power consumption by shutting down portions of the chip not needed based on the configuration of the device.