Patent ID: 9742700
Date: 2017-08-22
CPC Classifications: H04L

Claim:
1. A method for enabling communication and features between two network fiber channel (FC) switches, said method comprising: receiving at least one protocol frame at a first network FC switch, said at least one protocol frame being received from a second network FC switch connected to said first network FC switch and comprising information related to a manufacturer of said second network FC switch; retrieving a first identifier of said second network FC switch from said at least one protocol frame, said first identifier comprising primary manufacturer information identifying a manufacturer of said second network FC switch; determining that said retrieved first identifier does not match one of a plurality of peer switch manufacturer identifiers stored in a memory of said first network FC switch, each of said plurality of peer switch manufacturer identifiers identifying peer switches for which one or more features may be enabled for communicating with said first network FC switch; retrieving a second identifier of said second network FC switch from said at least one protocol frame when said retrieved first identifier does not match one of said plurality of peer switch manufacturer identifiers, said second identifier comprising secondary manufacturer information identifying said manufacturer of said second network FC switch; and upon determining that said retrieved second identifier matches one of said plurality of peer switch manufacturer identifiers,