Abstract: An FC fabric login/logout system includes an FC switch device coupled to an endpoint device by an intermediate FC fabric device. The intermediate FC fabric device receives a first FC fabric login from the endpoint device and, in response, performs FC fabric login operations to create an FC fabric session between the endpoint device and the FC switch device, and stores FC fabric session information in hardware table(s). When the intermediate FC fabric device determines that an FC fabric session time period has passed, it ends the FC fabric session by clearing the FC fabric session information from the hardware table(s), and stores the FC fabric session information in software table(s). If the intermediate FC fabric device then receives a second FC fabric login from the endpoint device, it recreates the FC fabric session by transferring the FC fabric session information from the software table(s) to the hardware table(s).

Abstract: An adaptive switch port role configuration system includes a first switch coupled to port on a second switch by an ISL, with end devices coupled to the second switch. The second switch transmits a port reconfiguration message to the first switch via the ISL while operating as a leaf switch with the port configured as an E port and, in response to an acceptance, performs link reset operations including reconfiguring the port as an N port. The second switch then transmits a FLOGI message for the port configured as the N port to the first switch via the ISL and, in response to an acceptance, transmits a respective FDISC message via the first ISL to the first switch for each of the end devices. The second switch then receives a response for each FDISC message, and uses end device addresses included in the responses to operate as an NPIV gateway.

Abstract: An ALUA/aggregated switch latency reduction system includes a switch aggregation system coupling a server system including initiator devices to a storage system including target devices. The switch aggregation system includes a respective first switch device directly coupled to each of the target devices, and a respective second switch device directly coupled to each of the initiator devices. Each second switch device identifies an initiator device it is directly connected to, and transmits a respective first communication to each of the first switch devices that identifies that directly connected initiator device. When each second switch device receives a respective second communication from each of the first switch devices that identifies its directly connected target device, it identifies the first switch device directly connected to the target device that is in a session with its directly connected initiator device and, in response, causes packets to be forwarded to that first switch device.

Abstract: In a Fibre channel (FC) networking system, a first FC networking device includes a first Ethernet switch processor and a first FC PHY converter that is communicatively coupled to the first Ethernet switch processor via a first plurality of Ethernet links, where the first plurality of Ethernet links is grouped as a first Ethernet aggregation interface. A second FC networking device is communicatively coupled to the first FC networking device via a plurality of FC links, where each Ethernet link of the first plurality of Ethernet links is mapped to a corresponding FC link of the plurality of FC links. The first FC networking device is configured to: generate only one FLOGI for a FC trunk associated with the first Ethernet aggregation interface; and hash the FLOGI among the first plurality of Ethernet links so as to the second FC networking device via the first Ethernet aggregation interface.

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 Fibre Channel Forwarder (FCF) routing system includes an FCF device that is coupled to a FC networking device through a first FCF device port, an initiator device through a second FCF device port; and a target device through a third FCF device port. The FCF device receives, at the second FCF device port, traffic that originates from the first initiator device and that is addressed to the first target device. The FCF device determines, using an FCF device association table that identifies zones provided by the FC networking device, that the target device is associated with the initiator device. The FCF device then routes, in response to determining the target device is associated with the initiator device, the traffic through the third FCF device port to the target device without forwarding the traffic through the first FCF device port to the FC networking device.

Abstract: A FC networking system includes a first FC networking device that is coupled to a FC storage system. A second FC networking device is coupled to a server device and includes a first FC PHY converter that is coupled to the first FC networking device via a first and a second FC link. The second FC networking device also includes an Ethernet switch processor that is coupled to the first FC PHY converter via a plurality of Ethernet links. The Ethernet links include a first Ethernet link that is mapped to the second FC link and a second Ethernet link that is mapped to the third FC link. The second FC networking device groups the first Ethernet link with the second Ethernet link to provide an aggregated interface, and load balances FCoE traffic between the first Ethernet link and the second Ethernet link.

Abstract: A Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) pinning system includes a first Fibre Channel Forwarder (FCF) device that is coupled to a Fibre Channel (FC) storage device through a first FCF device port, and that is coupled to a first server device through a second FCF device port that is included on an aggregated interface. The FCF device sends an FCF advertisement through the second FCF device port. The FCF device receives, from the first server device at the second FCF device port in response to sending the FCF advertisement through the second FCF device port, a server message that includes a first server port identifier of a first server port. The FCF device associates the first server port identifier with the second FCF device port to form a first FCF group and pins the first FCF group for FCoE traffic.

Abstract: Data Center Bridge (DCB)-based path selection methods and systems reduce packet loss in a network system comprising a Link Aggregation Group (LAG) topology. In embodiments, once traffic received at a LAG node and identified as DCB traffic, links whose DCB status are identified as “up” are assigned to a LAG sub-trunk that may be used to forward the DCB traffic on the LAG trunk, while non-DCB traffic is forwarded to any member of the LAG, irrespective of DCB status. In addition, DCB traffic received from a LAG peer node, which sends traffic on an inter-node link (INL) when no DCB-enabled links to a downstream device are present, is identified as DCB traffic and forwarded on a LAG sub-trunk that comprises DCB-enabled links. An egress mask that indicates to not forward the traffic received at the LAG node on the INL may be overridden, such that DCB traffic may be forwarded.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods for performing maintenance of a virtual fabric in a fibre channel (FC) network. In one or more embodiments, the system includes a gateway that receives a maintenance notice of a vfabric from a FC switch, the vfabric including at least one VN port session. In one or more embodiments, the gateway receives a logout notice of the at least one VN port session from the FC switch, and sends a first notice to an application, the first notice causing the application to stop sending data to the gateway. In one or more embodiments, the gateway receives a second notice that the maintenance is completed from the FC switch, re-logins the at least one VN port session into the vfabric, and sends a third notice to the application to resume sending data to the gateway.

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.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for transmitting data in a fibre channel (FC) network. The system includes a gateway that has: a port at which a plurality of data frames that are transmitted from a plurality of virtual node (VN) ports in a server are received, where data frames from at least two of the plurality of VN ports are related to different virtual fabrics (vfabrics) of a FC network.

Abstract: An FC fabric login/logout system includes an FC switch device coupled to an endpoint device by an intermediate FC fabric device. The intermediate FC fabric device receives a first FC fabric login from the endpoint device and, in response, performs FC fabric login operations to create an FC fabric session between the endpoint device and the FC switch device, and stores FC fabric session information in hardware table(s). When the intermediate FC fabric device determines that an FC fabric session time period has passed, it ends the FC fabric session by clearing the FC fabric session information from the hardware table(s), and stores the FC fabric session information in software table(s). If the intermediate FC fabric device then receives a second FC fabric login from the endpoint device, it recreates the FC fabric session by transferring the FC fabric session information from the software table(s) to the hardware table(s).

Abstract: A Fibre Channel Forwarder (FCF) routing system includes an FCF device that is coupled to a FC networking device through a first FCF device port, an initiator device through a second FCF device port; and a target device through a third FCF device port. The FCF device receives, at the second FCF device port, traffic that originates from the first initiator device and that is addressed to the first target device. The FCF device determines, using an FCF device association table that identifies zones provided by the FC networking device, that the target device is associated with the initiator device. The FCF device then routes, in response to determining the target device is associated with the initiator device, the traffic through the third FCF device port to the target device without forwarding the traffic through the first FCF device port to the FC networking device.

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 over Ethernet (FCoE) network can be inexpensively extended by additional switches (220x) that do not have a full FCoE functionality, e.g. do not have full E-port functionality. The additional switches may or may not have unique Domain IDs. A virtual switch fabric can be extended by such additional switches.

Abstract: An FCoE pinning system includes a first FSB that is coupled to an FCF device and that is coupled to a first FCoE node, and a second FSB that is coupled to the first FCF device, a second FCoE node, and the first FSB through an inter-chassis link (ICL). The second FSB receives, via the ICL, a first FCoE node synchronization notification that includes a first FCF device identifier for the first FCF device and associates a first FCoE node identifier included in the first FCoE node synchronization notification with the ICL. The second FSB provides an FCoE backup notification to the first FCF device to indicate that the second FSB provides a backup path for FCoE traffic. The second FSB provides a second FCoE node synchronization notification to the first FSB that indicates that the second FSB will provide the backup path for the FCoE traffic via the ICL.

Abstract: In a Fibre channel (FC) networking system, a first FC networking device includes a first Ethernet switch processor and a first FC PHY converter that is communicatively coupled to the first Ethernet switch processor via a first plurality of Ethernet links, where the first plurality of Ethernet links is grouped as a first Ethernet aggregation interface. A second FC networking device is communicatively coupled to the first FC networking device via a plurality of FC links, where each Ethernet link of the first plurality of Ethernet links is mapped to a corresponding FC link of the plurality of FC links. The first FC networking device is configured to: generate only one FLOGI for a FC trunk associated with the first Ethernet aggregation interface; and hash the FLOGI among the first plurality of Ethernet links so as to the second FC networking device via the first Ethernet aggregation interface.

Abstract: A FC networking system includes a first FC networking device that is coupled to a FC storage system. A second FC networking device is coupled to a server device and includes a first FC PHY converter that is coupled to the first FC networking device via a first and a second FC link. The second FC networking device also includes an Ethernet switch processor that is coupled to the first FC PHY converter via a plurality of Ethernet links. The Ethernet links include a first Ethernet link that is mapped to the second FC link and a second Ethernet link that is mapped to the third FC link. The second FC networking device groups the first Ethernet link with the second Ethernet link to provide an aggregated interface, and load balances FCoE traffic between the first Ethernet link and the second Ethernet link.

Abstract: An FCoE pinning system includes a first FSB that is coupled to an FCF device and that is coupled to a first FCoE node, and a second FSB that is coupled to the first FCF device, a second FCoE node, and the first FSB through an inter-chassis link (ICL). The second FSB receives, via the ICL, a first FCoE node synchronization notification that includes a first FCF device identifier for the first FCF device and associates a first FCoE node identifier included in the first FCoE node synchronization notification with the ICL. The second FSB provides an FCoE backup notification to the first FCF device to indicate that the second FSB provides a backup path for FCoE traffic. The second FSB provides a second FCoE node synchronization notification to the first FSB that indicates that the second FSB will provide the backup path for the FCoE traffic via the ICL.