Abstract: A method for transferring information between a first network comprising first-network-stations operating under an Ethernet protocol and a second network comprising second-network-stations operating under a Fibre Channel (FC) protocol, including grouping the first-network-stations into virtual local area networks (VLANs) which each transfer a respective VLAN-data-frame within the VLAN, and grouping the second-network-stations into FC zones which each transfer a respective zone-data-frame within the zone. The method further includes coupling the networks together using a gateway to convey data between the networks, configuring the gateway with an association mapping a primary VLAN and a primary zone, and translating in the gateway between a primary VLAN-data-frame and a primary zone-data-frame, responsive to the association, so as to convey primary-data between the primary VLAN and the primary zone via the gateway.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring data, including a first gateway, adapted to operate as a first switch in a first storage area network (SAN) operating according to a Fiber Channel protocol, and which is coupled to receive a data-frame addressed to a virtual address of a receiving client operative in a second SAN. The apparatus also includes a second gateway, adapted to operate as a second switch in the second SAN, which operates according to the Fiber Channel protocol substantially independently of the first SAN. The second gateway is coupled to receive the data-frame from the first gateway, and is adapted to look up a local address of the receiving client in the second SAN by using at least part of the virtual address as an index to an incoming-data-frame translation table, and to transmit the data-frame addressed to a local address of the receiving client.

Abstract: A method for transferring information between an iSCSI device operating under an iSCSI protocol within a TCP/IP network and a SCSI over Fiber Channel (FCP) device operating under an FCP protocol within an FC network, including: coupling the TCP/IP and the FC networks via a gateway which conveys data between the networks; generating in the gateway a virtual-FC-address for the iSCSI device; generating in the gateway a virtual-TCP/IP-address for the FCP device; conveying a first FC-data-frame, from the FCP device addressed to the virtual-FC-address of the iSCSI device; translating in the gateway the first FCP-data-frame into a first iSCSI-data-frame, addressed to a TCP/IP address of the iSCSI device; and conveying the first iSCSI-data-frame from the gateway to the iSCSI device responsive to the TCP/IP address. The gateway also transfers data from the iSCSI to the FCP device using the virtual addresses.

Abstract: A method for transferring information between a first network comprising first-network-stations operating under an Ethernet protocol and a second network comprising second-network-stations operating under a Fibre Channel (FC) protocol, including grouping the first-network-stations into virtual local area networks (VLANs) which each transfer a respective VLAN-data-frame within the VLAN, and grouping the second-network-stations into FC zones which each transfer a respective zone-data-frame within the zone. The method further includes coupling the networks together using a gateway to convey data between the networks, configuring the gateway with an association mapping a primary VLAN and a primary zone, and translating in the gateway between a primary VLAN-data-frame and a primary zone-data-frame, responsive to the association, so as to convey primary-data between the primary VLAN and the primary zone via the gateway.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring data, including a first gateway, adapted to operate as a first switch in a first storage area network (SAN) operating according to a Fiber Channel protocol, and which is coupled to receive a data-frame addressed to a virtual address of a receiving client operative in a second SAN. The apparatus also includes a second gateway, adapted to operate as a second switch in the second SAN, which operates according to the Fiber Channel protocol substantially independently of the first SAN. The second gateway is coupled to receive the data-frame from the first gateway, and is adapted to look up a local address of the receiving client in the second SAN by using at least part of the virtual address as an index to an incoming-data-frame translation table, and to transmit the data-frame addressed to a local address of the receiving client.