Patent ID: 8310953
Filing Date: 2012-11-13
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of adapter name discovery in a network, comprising: providing a first plurality of name server network devices that communicate with a second plurality of network devices via a network fabric; generating, by a requester adapter in a requester network device of the second plurality of network devices, a request for a MAC address name of another adapter in another network device of the second plurality of network devices, the requester adapter already including name information for the another adapter; transmitting, by the requester adapter, the request to a first name server network device included in the first plurality of name server network devices; transmitting, by the first name server network device, to the requester adapter a particular MAC address name corresponding to the another adapter, the first name server network device acting as an intermediary between the requester adapter and the another adapter, the first name server network device thus providing an indirect response including the particular MAC address name to the requester adapter on behalf of the another adapter; and receiving, by the requester adapter, from the first name server network device the particular MAC address name corresponding to the another adapter.