Abstract: A method implemented in an FCoE controller and manager (FCM) coupled to a first fiber channel over Ethernet (FCoE) data forwarder (FDF), the method comprising sending to the first FDF a first Controlling FDF Information (CFI) request that requests the name of the first FDF, receiving from the first FDF a first CFI acceptance comprising the name of the first FDF, receiving from the first the second CFI acceptance associated with a second FDF, wherein the first CFI acceptance and the second CFI acceptance allow the FCM to develop topology information for a FCoE network comprising the FCM, the first FDF, and the second FDF, creating a first base forwarding table for the first FDF, and creating a second base forwarding table for the second FDF, wherein the second base forwarding table is different than the first base forwarding table.

Abstract: A fiber channel over Ethernet (FCoE) network component, comprising a first FCoE data forwarder (FDF) configured to couple to a second FDF and to a third FDF, wherein the first FDF is configured to receive a FCoE frame from the second FDF and send the FCoE frame to the third FDF, wherein the frame comprises a destination address and a fiber channel (FC) payload, and wherein the first FDF does not change the destination address of the frame when the first FDF forwards the frame to the third FDF.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of district boundary bridges (DBBs) in a plurality of second network districts configured to couple to a plurality of core bridges in a core network district and to a plurality of end-stations in the second network districts via a plurality of intermediate switches in the second network districts; wherein the core bridges and the DBBs are aware of a plurality of Media Access Control (MAC) addresses of the DBBs but are not aware of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and MAC addresses of the end-stations, and wherein the IP addresses of the end-stations are mapped in a directory service (DS) in the core network district to the MAC addresses of the corresponding DBBs in the corresponding second network districts of the end-stations.

Abstract: A network component comprising a receiver configured to receive an outgoing frame from a local host, a logic circuit configured to map a destination address (DA) for a target host in the outgoing frame to a DA for a target location of the target host and encapsulate the outgoing frame using the DA for the target location, and a transmitter configured to receive a pre-encapsulated outgoing frame from a local switch, and send the pre-encapsulated outgoing frame to a gateway at a target location, wherein the transmitter does not encapsulate frames received from local switches and decapsulates an incoming frame from a remote gateway destined towards local hosts.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for processing a packet. Processing the packet comprises receiving the packet; translating the packet from a first protocol-specific format to a canonical packet format; translating the packet from the canonical packet format to a second protocol-specific format; and forwarding the packet.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for processing a packet. Processing the packet comprises receiving the packet; translating the packet from a first protocol-specific format to a canonical packet format; translating the packet from the canonical packet format to a second protocol-specific format; and forwarding the packet.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a Converged Port Controller (CPC) comprising a plurality of first ports and a plurality of second ports, and an Ethernet Switch Fabric (ESF) coupled to the second ports, wherein the CPC is configured to receive a plurality of Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) frames on the first ports, modify at least some of the FCoE frames, thereby producing modified FCoE frames, and transmit the FCoE frames on the second ports. An apparatus comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a plurality of FCoE frames, a plurality of Fiber Channel (FC) frames, and a plurality of Ethernet frames, modifying the FCoE frames, thereby producing modified FCoE frames, encapsulating the FC frames in an Ethernet format, thereby producing a plurality of second FCoE frames, and switching the modified FCoE frames, the second FCoE frames, and the Ethernet frames using an Ethernet switch fabric.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a node configured to communicate with a path computation element (PCE) and a neighbor node, wherein the node is configured to send a local traffic engineering (TE) information directly to the PCE without sending the local TE information to the neighbor node. Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising establishing a PCE protocol (PCEP) session with a PCE, and sending a TE information directly to the PCE without flooding the TE information. Also disclosed is a method comprising receiving a TE information, updating a first TE database (TED) using the TE information, and synchronizing the first TED with a second TED.

Abstract: An ingress edge router (6) couples a set of input links (13) carrying packet information to a set of output links (14) carrying burst information. A plurality of input line cards (30) route information packets to one of a plurality of output line cards (32) associated with a desired output link (14) over a switching matrix (34). The output line cards (32) assemble information packets into data bursts, generate burst header packets for respective data bursts, and transmit the data bursts and burst header packets on the output links (14). The output line cards (32) include a plurality of burst processing units (40) for assembling data from the packets into data bursts, a plurality of transmitters (46) for transmitting data bursts on a respective channel of an output link and a switch (42) for passing bursts from a burst processing unit to a transmitter under control of a burst control unit (44).

Abstract: A scheduling system and methodology for use in a network switch element having multiserver, multiple-arbiter architecture. Ingress ports and egress ports coupled to the cross-connect fabric of the network element are provided with multiple ingress and egress arbiters, respectively, for effectuating an iterative arbitration strategy such as RGA or RG. Arbiter architectures include singe-arbiter-per-port; single-arbiter-per-server; multiple-arbiters-per-port; and multiple-arbiters-per-server arrangements, wherein the arbiters can be implemented using RRA, BTA, Flexible Ring, or any other arbiter technology. Depending on the iteration strategy, ingress arbiter architecture and egress arbiter architecture, a variety of iterative, multiserver-capable scheduling algorithms can be obtained, which scheduling algorithms can also be implemented in QoS-aware network nodes.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing channel scheduling algorithms in an optical router wherein a scheduler operates pursuant to an algorithm and is capable of determining the availability of outbound data channels capable of carrying a data packet of duration B. The scheduler is further capable of selecting one channel from available data channels and assigning the data packet to the selected channel. The scheduler then updates state information of the selected data channel, but if no data channel is available to carry the data packet the data packet is dropped.

Abstract: A control architecture for an optical burst-switched network includes an electronic ingress edge router, a switch control unit at each hop, and an electronic egress edge router. The electronic ingress edge router assembles multiple data packets into a burst. The switch control units at each hop configure the optical switching matrix to switch the burst through the optical burst-switched network. Finally, the electronic egress edge router receives the burst from the optical burst-switched network and disassembles the burst into multiple data packets.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for reserving data channels in an optical burst-switched network. A data channel (or a multiple of data channels) along an optical path in an optical burst-switched network is reserved by first transmitting a data channel reservation request from an electronic ingress edge router to a reservation termination node. Next, the data channel reservation request is processed at all nodes along the optical path, including the reservation termination node. A data channel reservation acknowledgement is then transmitted from the reservation termination node to the electronic ingress edge router. Finally, the data channel path is reserved once an initial burst(s) which contains a reserve data channel bit reaches the reservation termination node.

Abstract: A system and method for assembling multiple multicast data packets into a multicast burst according to multiple multicast burstification classes and switching the multicast burst through an optical burst switched network. To switch multicast data packets through an optical burst switched network according to the present invention, multicast data packets are first assembled into a multicast burst at an electronic ingress edge router according to a plurality of multicast burstification classes. The multicast burst is then switched through the optical burst-switched network to the destined electronic egress edge routers, disassembled back into multicast data packets and transmitted to multiple destinations.

Abstract: A scheduling system and methodology for use in a network switch element having multiserver, multiple-arbiter architecture. Ingress ports and egress ports coupled to the cross-connect fabric of the network element are provided with multiple ingress and egress arbiters, respectively, for effectuating an iterative arbitration strategy such as RGA or RG. Arbiter architectures include singe-arbiter-per-port; single-arbiter-per-server; multiple-arbiters-per-port; and multiple-arbiters-per-server arrangements, wherein the arbiters can be implemented using RRA, BTA, Flexible Ring, or any other arbiter technology. Depending on the iteration strategy, ingress arbiter architecture and egress arbiter architecture, a variety of iterative, multiserver-capable scheduling algorithms can be obtained, which scheduling algorithms can also be implemented in QoS-aware network nodes.

Abstract: An optical switch network (4) includes optical routers (10), which route information in optical fibers (12). Each fiber carries a plurality of data channels (20), collectively a data channel group (14), and a control channel (16). Data is carried on the data channels in data bursts and control information is carried on the control channel (18) in burst header packets. A burst header packet includes routing information for an associated data burst (28) and precedes its associated data burst. Parallel scheduling at multiple delays may be used for faster scheduling. In one embodiment, unscheduled times and gaps may be processed in a unified memory for more efficient operation.

Abstract: An optical switch network (4) includes optical routers (10), which route information in optical fibers (12). Each fiber carries a plurality of data channels (20), collectively a data channel group (14), and a control channel (16). Data is carried on the data channels in data bursts and control information is carried on the control channel (18) in burst header packets. A burst header packet includes routing information for an associated data burst (28) and precedes its associated data burst. Parallel scheduling at multiple delays may be used for faster scheduling. In one embodiment, unscheduled times and gaps may be processed in a unified memory for more efficient operation.