METHODS, SYSTEMS AND APPARATUS FOR THE INTERCONNECTION OF FIBRE CHANNEL OVER ETHERNET DEVICES

摘要

Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for forwarding Fibre Channel Initialization Protocol (FIP) frames and Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) frames by a FCoE device interconnection apparatus (FIA) and with a Fibre 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 by a FCoE device interconnection apparatus (FIA) and with a Fibre Channel over Ethernet device interconnection apparatus controller (FIAC), the method comprising:
receiving a FIP frame from a FCoE device by a FIA, the FIP frame comprising destination Ethernet MAC address and source Ethernet MAC address fields, forwarding the said received FIP frame to a FCoE device interconnection apparatus controller (FIAC) over an Ethernet link, receiving a FCoE frame by a FIA from a FCoE device, the frame including destination Ethernet MAC address and source Ethernet MAC address fields, replacing the destination Ethernet MAC address of the received FCoE frame, replacing the source Ethernet MAC address of the received FCoE frame, and forwarding the frame to the destination FCoE device.