Methods, systems and apparatus for the interconnection of fibre channel over Ethernet devices

摘要

Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for forwarding Fiber Channel Initialization Protocol (FIP) frames and Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) frames by a FCoE device interconnection apparatus (FIA) and with a Fiber Channel over Ethernet device interconnection apparatus controller (FIAC). An FCoE frame received by the FIA from the FCoE device includes at least destination and source Ethernet MAC address fields which are replaced, such as where the destination Ethernet MAC address is replaced by the MAC address assigned to a remote FCoE device, such as the desired end port. The frame is forwarded to the destination FCoE device. Preferably, first and second ports are coupled to the connectivity apparatus, which are then coupled to first and second FCoE devices.

主权项

1. A method for forwarding Fibre Channel Initialization Protocol (FIP) and Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) frames with a FCoE device interconnection apparatus (FIA) from a source FCoE device to a destination FCoE device, the method comprising:
receiving the FIP frame from the source FCoE device by the FIA, the FIP frame including destination Ethernet MAC address and source Ethernet MAC addresses, the FIA being capable of substituting destination and source Ethernet MAC addresses, forwarding the received FIP frame to a FCoE device interconnection apparatus controller (FIAC) over an Ethernet link, whereby the FIAC processes the FIP Frame and the FIAC returns a HP link service accept (LS_ACC) or a FIP link service reject (LS_RJT) frame, the FIAC communicating with the FIA to insert the destination Ethernet MAC address and Source Ethernet MAC address, receiving the FCoE frame by the FIA from the source FCoE device, the FCoE frame including destination Ethernet MAC address and source Ethernet MAC addresses, replacing the destination Ethernet MAC address and source Ethernet MAC addresses of the received FCoE frame and maintaining the contents of the encapsulated Fibre Channel Frame within the received FCoE frame, and forwarding, the received FCoE frame with the rep aced destination Ethernet MAC address and the replaced source Ethernet MAC address to the destination PCoE device.