Patent ID: 8830871
Filing Date: 2014-09-09
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: at a first Fibre Channel switch that is currently serving as a Principal Switch among a plurality of Fibre Channel switches in a Fibre Channel Fabric, sending to neighboring Fibre Channel switches an Exchange Fabric Parameters (EFP) frame having an empty domain identifier list during a first portion a Principal Switch Selection phase, wherein during the first portion of the Principal Switch Selection phase the neighboring Fibre Channel switches also send EFP frames having an empty domain identifier list; and during a second portion of the Principal Switch Selection phase that is after the first portion, sending from the first Fibre Channel switch to the neighboring Fibre Channel switches an EFP frame having a non-empty domain identifier list to indicate to the neighboring Fibre Channel switches that the first Fibre Channel switch is to remain serving as the Principal Switch in the Fibre Channel Fabric, wherein during the second portion of the Principal Switch Selection phase the neighboring Fibre Channel switches continue to send EFP frames having an empty domain identifier list.