Patent ID: 7411958
Filing Date: 2008-08-12
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for copying data stored at a source storage device to a destination storage device, the source storage device and the destination storage device being operationally coupled to a Fibre Channel switch, comprising: receiving a copy command via a user interface to copy information from the source storage device to the destination storage device, wherein the Fibre Channel switch receives the copying command; the Fibre Channel switch logging into the source storage device and the destination storage device, instead of the source storage device and the destination storage device logging into the Fibre Channel switch; initiating a write operation with the destination target storage device, wherein the Fibre Channel switch (a) initiates the write operation by sending a write command to the destination storage device; (b) sets a source address of the source storage device from where data is to be copied making it appear to the destination storage device as if the source storage device initiated the write operation; and (c) assigns an originator exchange identification field (OX_ID) for an exchange; receiving a response from the destination storage device; wherein the response includes a destination identifier (D_ID) for the source storage device and the destination storage device sets a responder identification field (RX_ID) for the exchange; routing the response received from the destination storage device to a switch processor for the Fibre Channel switch, instead of directly sending the response to the source storage device; initiating a read command with the source storage device, wherein the Fibre Channel switch initiates the read command by setting the destination storage device address as a source address for the read command making it appear to the source storage device that the destination storage device initiated the read command; routing data directly from the source storage device to the destination source device; and substituting a RX_ID in the response received from the destination storage device with a RX_ID received from the source storage device so that the destination storage device receives an expected RX_ID.