Methods and apparatus for device access fairness in fibre channel arbitrated loop systems
US7660316B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 10, 2003 |
| Grant date | Feb 9, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 31, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L47/20
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for switching Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop Systems is provided between a plurality of Fibre Channel Loop devices. In one aspect of the invention, the system switches based at least in part on arbitrated loop primitives. An exemplary interconnect system may include a first port and a second port, both including port logic to monitor certain arbitrated loop primitives, a connectivity apparatus, a route determination apparatus including a routing table consisting of ALPA addresses and their associated ports, the route determination apparatus coupled to each port and the connectivity apparatus, where the connectivity apparatus creates paths between the ports based on arbitrated loop primitives. In one embodiment, the connectivity apparatus is a crossbar switch. Examples of the arbitrated loop primitives that cause the switch to create paths between ports includes one or more of the following: ARB, OPN and CLS. In yet other aspects, the system ensures device access fairness through one or more techniques, including a rotating priority system, a counter to count the number of OPNs, especially sequential OPNs, and/or priority based on port type. Device zoning may be…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.