Patent ID: 8713162
Filing Date: 2014-04-29
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A system for communicating Fibre Channel (FC) messages over a switched Ethernet network, between system network adapters, comprising: one or more initiator system network adapters; and one or more target system network adapters; wherein said one or more initiator system network adapters and said one or more target system network adapters, all of which total at least three, are configured to communicate Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) messages—including FCoE Initialization Protocol (FIP) type Messages—over virtual links formed over the switched Ethernet network without requiring said FCoE messages to traverse to, or through any of the following: a) FCoE Forwarders (FCFs), b) a FC Switch, or c) an FCF type device; wherein the virtual link between a first system network adapter of said one or more Initiator system network adapters and a second system network adapter of said one or more target system network adapters is formed by all the Initiator and Target system network adapters soliciting, via solicitation messages, and receiving response messages that have descriptive information, including VN Port media access control (MAC) address, from all other responding system network adapters operating on the network; and the first system network adapter: and wherein said second system network adapter is configured to send a connection response message—accepting the fabric login request—directly to the first system network adapter in response to receipt of said fabric login request (FLOGI) within an FCoE Initiation Protocol (FIP) message and wherein said connection response message comprises an FCoE Initiation Protocol (FIP) login accept message (FLOGI ACC).