Scaling Number of Virtual Links in a Fiber Channel Forwarder Device

摘要

At a network device that forwards packets between compute devices and virtual storage area networks using Fiber Channel over Ethernet techniques, data is stored for a virtual fabric port of the network device identifying each of a plurality of virtual storage area networks. For each virtual storage area network, data is stored identifying each of a plurality of compute devices that are logged into the virtual storage area network via the network device. The network device forwards packets sent to the virtual fabric port of the network device from the plurality of compute devices to corresponding ones of the plurality of virtual storage area networks.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
at a network device that forwards packets between compute devices and virtual storage area networks using Fiber Channel over Ethernet techniques, storing, for a virtual fabric port of the network device, first mapping data that contains identifiers identifying each of a plurality of virtual storage area networks associated with the virtual fabric port; storing, for each virtual storage area network, second mapping data that contains a plurality of medium access control (MAC) addresses identifying each of a plurality of compute devices that are logged into the virtual storage area network via the network device, and wherein each entry in the first mapping data is linked to data in the second mapping data; receiving a discovery packet from a particular compute device; evaluating the discovery packet to determine a particular virtual storage area network associated with the discovery packet; evaluating the first mapping data at the network device to determine the presence of an entry corresponding to the particular virtual storage area network associated with the discovery packet; in response to determining that the entry is not present, instantiating a new entry in the first mapping data, corresponding to the particular virtual storage area network associated with the discovery packet; and forwarding packets sent to the virtual fabric port of the network device from the plurality of compute devices, based at least in part upon the first mapping data and the second mapping data, to corresponding ones of the plurality of virtual storage area networks.