Patent ID: 7616578
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for forwarding data at a fibre channel switch, the method comprising: receiving fibre channel data at a line card associated with the fibre channel switch; snooping for command frames at the line card, wherein the line card includes a data path processor configured to monitor fibre channel data received on an input port; determining that a command frame is associated with a selected flow, wherein the selected flow is identified using initiator and target information; determining that the selected flow is switch port analyzer (SPAN) enabled; and forwarding the command frame to a SPAN while skipping data frames if the command frame is associated with the selected flow and the selected flow is SPAN enabled; wherein information for the selected flow is provided to the SPAN when a SPAN enable indicator is toggled on for the selected flow identified by an exchange identifier, wherein the SPAN enable indicator is toggled off when a response frame for the selected flow is received.