Patent ID: 9106641
Filing Date: 2015-08-11
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A system for establishing a virtual link for transferring Fibre Channel (FC) messages over a switched Ethernet network, comprising: at least three system network adapters; and each of the at least three system network adapters configured to store a plurality of instructions executable by each of the at least three network adapters, the instructions including instructions for: soliciting directly from a plurality of the at least three system network adapters for their descriptive information, including their VN_Port media access control (MAC) addresses via a solicitation message, the solicitation message formatted as an FCoE Initiation Protocol (FIP) type message and said message neither passing through nor utilizing any FCoE Forwarder (FCF), FC switch or any FCF type device, and said at least three system network adapters not being FCF type devices; obtaining VN_Port network unique media access control (MAC) addresses directly from each of the plurality of system network adapters; sending an FC over Ethernet (FCoE) fabric login request (FLOG I), within an FCoE Initiation Protocol (FIP) message, from an initiator system network adapter directly to a selected target system network adapter without passing through or utilizing any FCoE Forwarder (FCF), FC Switch or FCF type device; and forming a direct virtual link between the initiator system network adapter and the selected target system network adapter, after the selected target system network adapter has accepted said FCoE fabric login request by responding with an FCoE fabric login accept (FLOGI ACC)—within an FCoE Initiation Protocol (FIP) message sent directly from the selected target system network adapter to the initiator system network adapter without passing through or utilizing any FCoE Forwarder (FCF), FC switch or FCF device.