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Method and Apparatus for Transferring Data Between IP Network Devices and SCSI and Fibre Channel Devices Over an IP Network

a technology of transferring data and network devices, applied in data switching networks, data switching details, instruments, etc., can solve the problems of incompatibility of physical interface and frame formats between fibre channel and ethernet, high access to storage systems is highly susceptible to bottlenecks, and the second high-speed network based on a different technology is a significant impediment to the proliferation of sans

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-12-13
NISHAN SYST
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides methods and apparatus for transferring data between different types of devices in a network, such as IP devices and storage devices. This is achieved by using a network switch device that can communicate with multiple device interfaces over an IP network. The switch device allows for the construction of a SAN using existing network infrastructure, without the need for expensive Fibre Channel switches and hubs. The methods and apparatus include a means for converting data packets between different formats, such as SCSI, Fibre Channel, and IP, and for routing data packets between different devices in the network. The technical effects of the invention include improved data transfer speeds, flexible control over network traffic, and reduced latency levels for storage protocols."

Problems solved by technology

As such, access to storage systems is highly susceptible to bottlenecks.
Construction of a second high-speed network based on a different technology is a significant impediment to the proliferation of SANs.
However, the physical interface and frame formats between Fibre Channel and Ethernet are not compatible.

Method used

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  • Method and Apparatus for Transferring Data Between IP Network Devices and SCSI and Fibre Channel Devices Over an IP Network
  • Method and Apparatus for Transferring Data Between IP Network Devices and SCSI and Fibre Channel Devices Over an IP Network
  • Method and Apparatus for Transferring Data Between IP Network Devices and SCSI and Fibre Channel Devices Over an IP Network

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0033]FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a storage area network (SAN) 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, network 10 includes numerous storage devices, such as tape libraries 15, RAID drives 20 and optical drives 25 (e.g., CD, DVD, etc.) and servers 30. The storage devices can be either storage targets (e.g., tape libraries 15, RAID drives 20, etc.) or initiators (e.g., servers 30). Note that a device could be both an initiator and a target. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is implemented in a switching device 35 within network 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, each switching device 35 is an “edge” switch which provides the connectivity between nodes (i.e., one or more storage devices) and a network 40. In other words, the switch resides on the “edge” of the network where the devices are located. Each edge switch 35 allows connected storage elements to communicate through the edge switch with no traffic being sent to network 40. Each edge switc...

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for transferring data between IP devices (including, but not limited to, Gigabit Ethernet devices) and SCSI or Fibre Channel devices. The device interfaces may be either SCSI, Fibre Channel or IP interfaces such as Gigabit Ethernet. Data is switched between SCSI and IP, Fibre Channel and IP, or between SCSI and Fibre Channel. Data can also be switched from SCSI to SCSI, IP to IP and FC to FC. The port interfaces provide the conversion from the input frame format to an internal frame format, which can be routed within the apparatus. The amount of processing performed by each port interface is dependent on the interface type. The processing capabilities of the present invention permit rapid transfer of information packets between multiple interfaces at latency levels meeting the stringent requirements for storage protocols. The configuration control can be applied to each port on a switch and, in turn, each switch on the network, via an SNMP or Web-based interface, providing a flexible, programmable control for the apparatus.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 138,029 filed 30 Apr. 2002 entitled “Method and apparatus for transferring data between IP network devices and SCSI and fibre channel devices over an IP network,” which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 6,400,730, also entitled “Method and apparatus for transferring data between IP network devices and SCSI and fibre channel devices over an IP network,” which claims the benefit of priority pursuant to U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. provisional application No. 60 / 123,606 filed 10 Mar. 1999 also entitled “Method and apparatus for transferring data between IP network devices and SCSI and fibre channel devices over an IP network,” which are all hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to transferring information between storage devices and a network via a switched, packetized communications sy...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H04J3/16H04L12/06H04L12/46H04L29/06H04L29/08
CPCG06F3/0601G06F2003/0692H04L12/06H04L12/4604H04L47/10H04L69/329H04L67/1097H04L69/16H04L69/169H04L69/08H04L69/161H04L47/36G06F3/0673
Inventor LATIF, AAMERMULLENDORE, RODNEY N.WHITE, JOSEPH L.UCHINO, BRIAN Y.
Owner NISHAN SYST
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