Patent ID: 7796627
Filing Date: 2010-09-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for coupling multiple processing devices to a network, comprising: a switch that includes a network port configured to route frames based on a plurality of arbitrated loop physical addresses, the network port configured for coupling to a network, and one or more initiator ports each configured for coupling to one or more processing devices, wherein the switch routes data from the network port to the plurality of initiator ports and from the plurality of initiator ports to the network port; and a management agent, wherein, during operation of the apparatus, the management agent enables configuration changes caused by the coupling of a first processing device to a first initiator port of the plurality of initiator ports or by the decoupling of the first processing device from the first initiator port by facilitating continued communications between a second processing device coupled to a second initiator port and a target device coupled to the network port, and wherein the management agent includes