Method and apparatus providing split multi link trunk (SMLT) for advanced technology attachment (ATA) over Ethernet

摘要

A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing Split Multi Link Trunk (SMLT) for Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) Over Ethernet is presented. All ports on an ATA server are assigned a same Media Access Control (MAC) address. When the first switch receives a packet destined to the second switch the first switch performs a route lookup on a destination address of the packet and forwards the packet to the target over one of the second plurality of links, and when the second switch receives a packet destined to the first switch the second switch performs a route lookup on a destination address of the packet and forwards the packet to the target over one of the second plurality of links.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method for providing Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) over Ethernet, the method comprising:
assigning all ports on an ATA server a same Media Access Control (MAC) address, wherein said ATA server encapsulates ATA commands inside Ethernet frames and sends said Ethernet frames over an Ethernet network and wherein said ATA is used to provide high performance access of Serial ATA (SATA) storage devices over said Ethernet network; providing a first plurality of links from said ports of said ATA server to a first switch and to a second switch, wherein said first switch is a peer to said second switch, and wherein said first switch and said second switch communicate with each other via an Inter Switch Trunk (IST), wherein said assigning all ports on said ATA server a same MAC address allows said first switch and said second switch to handle traffic between said ATA server and said target; providing a second plurality of links from said first switch and said second switch to a target, wherein when said first switch receives a packet destined to said second switch said first switch performs a route lookup on a destination address of said packet and forwards said packet to said target over one of said second plurality of links, and when said second switch receives a packet destined to said first switch said second switch performs a route lookup on a destination address of said packet and forwards said packet to said target over one of said second plurality of links; and using a round-robin technique across SMLT port members for traffic distribution.