Patent ID: 6138161
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for maintaining a unique reserve command relationship between an initiator and a target device in a Fibre Channel network across network address changes, comprising the steps of:maintaining in the initiator a target triplet table comprising a target triplet of data for the target device if the initiator is communicating with the target device;maintaining in the target device an initiator triplet table comprising an initiator triplet of data for the initiator if the initiator is communicating with the target device;maintaining in the target device a reserve table comprising a pair of data for the initiator if the initiator and the target device are in said unique reserve command relationship;if the initiator and the target device are in communication, sending from the initiator to the target device said initiator triplet of data following the resumption of communication after said break in communication for identifying the initiator to the target device;if the initiator and the target device are in communication, sending from the target device to the initiator said target triplet of data following the resumption of communication after said break in communication for identifying the target device to the initiator;comparing said pair of data from said reserve table with the initiator triplet of data sent by the initiator following the resumption of communication to identify, based on said initiator node name and an initiator node name and an initiator port name, that the initiator and the target device were in said unique reserve command relationship before said break in communication; andon the event that the target device and the initiator were in said unique reserve command relationship before said break in communication, continuing said unique reserve command relationship following the break in communication.