Patent ID: 8848727

Claim:
A method comprising: managing transport of storage data between an initiator and a target according to a protocol stack, the protocol stack comprising a plurality of hierarchical layers, the plurality of hierarchical layers comprising Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) protocol as an upper layer protocol of the hierarchical layers, Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) protocol or Direct Data Placement (DDP) protocol as a remote data protocol layer, the remote data protocol layer being below the upper layer protocol in the hierarchical layers, Enterprise Fabric Message Protocol (EFMP) as a reliable connection protocol layer, the reliable connection protocol layer being below the remote data protocol layer in the hierarchical layers, and Ethernet as a transmission protocol layer being below the reliable connection protocol layer; via logic circuitry, transferring commands of the storage transport protocol and portions of the storage data as cells from the initiator to the target via a switch fabric in based on the protocol stack and in accordance with flow control information associated with the reliable connection protocol; via application and storage processors, accessing the storage data in respective memories associated with each of the processors; and further via the logic circuitry, accessing the respective memories in accordance with respective direct memory access protocols that are in accordance with the transferring.