Firm addressing for devices on a fibre channel arbitrated loop
US6167463A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 8, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 8, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F12/0669
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Devices for a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop are initially unconfigured, and during the first loop initialization, arbitrate as a soft addressed device. The chosen address is then stored in non-volatile memory. Once an address is stored in non-volatile memory, during subsequent loop initializations, the device arbitrates as a hard address device. Because the address was chosen during a standard Fibre Channel Loop Initialization Process, the risk of future hard address conflicts is greatly reduced. Preferably, however, firm addresses may be erased by operator control, or by system command. Firm addressing provides the fixed address benefits of hard addressing, but substantially reduces the risk of hard address conflicts, while remaining compatible with the ANSI standards for Fibre Channel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.