Synchronizing out-of-sync elements in a distributed fibre channel forwarder

摘要

Techniques are provided for synchronizing, in a distributed Fiber Channel fabric or a distributed FCoE fabric in which FC frames are encapsulated in Ethernet frames, a controlling FCoE forwarder (cFCF) with the FCoE data-plane forwarder (FDF). The operation includes entering a recovery mode at the FDF. The FDF is modified based on a route distribution message provided by the cFCF which includes fabric-provided MAC addresses (FPMAs). The FDF notifies the cFCF of differences between the FPMAs supplied by the route distribution message with the FPMAs known by the FDF. The FDF leaves the recovery mode and sends an acknowledgement to the cFCF.

主权项

1. A method for managing a Distributed Fibre Channel Switch, the method comprising:
responsive to determining a Fibre Channel Data Forwarder (FDF) is out of sync with a controlling Fibre Channel Forwarder (cFCF), entering a recovery mode at the FDF; modifying the FDF based on a route distribution message received from the cFCF, wherein the route distribution message includes fabric-provided MAC addresses (FPMAs) provided by the cFCF; notifying the cFCF of differences between the FPMAs supplied by the route distribution message and the FPMAs known by the FDF; and leaving the recovery mode at the FDF and sending an acknowledgement to the cFCF.