750 results about "Ethernet frame" patented technology

A Data Center Ethernet (“DCE”) network and related methods and device are provided. A DCE network simplifies the connectivity of data centers and provides a high bandwidth, low latency network for carrying Ethernet, storage and other traffic. A Fibre Channel (“FC”) frame, including FC addressing information, is encapsulated in an Ethernet frame for transmission on a Data Center Ethernet (“DCE”) network. The Ethernet address fields may indicate that the frame includes an FC frame, e.g., by the use of a predetermined Organization Unique Identifier (“OUI”) code in the D_MAC field, but also include Ethernet addressing information. Accordingly, the encapsulated frames can be forwarded properly by switches in the DCE network whether or not these switches are configured for operation according to the FC protocol. Accordingly, only a subset of Ethernet switches in the DCE network needs to be FC-enabled. Only switches so configured will require an FC Domain_ID.

The invention relates to enabling traffic engineering in frame-based networks such as Ethernet networks. There is described a method of and connection controller for establishing connections (76, 77) in a frame-based communications network comprising nodes (71-75 and 78) such as Ethernet switches. The connections are established by configuring, in various of the nodes, mappings for forwarding data frames, such as Ethernet frames. The mappings are from a combination of a) a destination address corresponding to a destination node (73) of the connection and b) an identifier, such as a VLAN tag. The mappings are to selected output ports of the various nodes. By using the combination of destination address AND identifier, the mappings enable data frames belonging to different connections (76, 77) to be forwarded differentially (ie forwarded on different output ports) at a node (75) despite the different connections having the same destination node. This enables flexibility in routing connections—ie the ability to perform traffic engineering.

The invention relates to enabling differential forwarding in address-based carrier networks such as Ethernet networks. There is described a method of and connection controller for establishing connections (76, 77) in a frame-based communications network comprising nodes (71-75 and 78) such as Ethernet switches. The connections are established by configuring, in various of the nodes, mappings for forwarding data frames, such as Ethernet frames. The mappings are from a combination of a) a destination (or source) address corresponding to a destination (or source) node (73) of the connection and b) an identifier, such as a VLAN tag. The mappings are to selected output ports of the various nodes. By using the combination of destination (or source) address AND identifier, the mappings enable data frames belonging to different connections (76, 77) to be forwarded differentially (ie forwarded on different output ports) at a node (75) despite the different connections having the same destination node. This enables flexibility in routing connections and the ability to perform traffic engineering.

A Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) transport for fabric backplane enterprise servers provides for local and remote communication of storage system information between storage sub-system elements of an ES system and other elements of an ES system via a storage interface. The transport includes encapsulation of information for communication via a reliable transport implemented in part across a cellifying switch fabric. The transport may optionally include communication via Ethernet frames over any of a local network or the Internet. Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) and Direct Data Placement (DDP) protocols are used to communicate the information (commands, responses, and data) between SCSI initiator and target end-points. A Fibre Channel Module (FCM) may be operated as a SCSI target providing a storage interface to any of a Processor Memory Module (PMM), a System Control Module (SCM), and an OffLoad Module (OLM) operated as a SCSI initiator.

A packet forwarding apparatus (L2SW) having a frame segmentation function of converting a extended Ethernet frame such as a MAC-in-MAC frame into a plurality of fragment frames when a payload length of the received frame exceeds a standard MTU size communicable in an Ethernet network to be a forwarding destination, by segmenting the received frame into a plurality of data blocks having a size not longer than the MTU size, and a frame assembling function of restoring an original extended frame from a series of fragment frames received from the Ethernet network.

A method and system for interworking between an Ethernet communication network and a frame relay network, in which a first network interface is operable to communicate with the Ethernet communication network using an Ethernet communication protocol. A second network interface is operable to communicate with the frame relay communication network using a frame relay protocol. A processing unit is in communication with the first network interface and the second network interface, in which the processing unit encapsulates frames received from the Ethernet network into frame relay frames, decapsulates frames received from the frame relay network to recover Ethernet frames and maps parameters corresponding to the received one of the frame relay and Ethernet frames into the other of the frame relay and Ethernet frames, the mapped parameters including connection configuration control plane information and data plane parameters corresponding to individual frames.

A transport facility adapted to transport TDM bit streams using IP packets over an asynchronous Ethernet network. TDM bit streams such as E1, T1, E3, T3, OC-3, OC-12, STM-1, STM-4, etc. are received, buffered and encapsulated into Ethernet frames. The Circuit Emulation Device (CED) receives, buffers and assembles in real-time ingress data from TDM ports into Ethernet Frames and forwards them to an Ethernet interface. The TDM data is encapsulated within RTP, UDP and IP packets before being encapsulated within an Ethernet frame. In the egress direction, Ethernet frames enter the encapsulation / segmentation processor from the Ethernet port and the IP, UDP and RTP packets are extracted from the frame. TDM data is extracted and the bit streams are re-generated and forwarded to the TDM ports for transmission over legacy TDM facilities.

Method, apparatus, and systems for reliably transferring Ethernet packet data over a link layer and facilitating fabric-to-Ethernet and Ethernet-to-fabric gateway operations at matching wire speed and packet data rate. Ethernet header and payload data is extracted from Ethernet frames received at the gateway and encapsulated in fabric packets to be forwarded to a fabric endpoint hosting an entity to which the Ethernet packet is addressed. The fabric packets are divided into flits, which are bundled in groups to form link packets that are transferred over the fabric at the Link layer using a reliable transmission scheme employing implicit ACKnowledgements. At the endpoint, the fabric packet is regenerated, and the Ethernet packet data is de-encapsulated. The Ethernet frames received from and transmitted to an Ethernet network are encoded using 64b / 66b encoding, having an overhead-to-data bit ratio of 1:32. Meanwhile, the link packets have the same ratio, including one overhead bit per flit and a 14-bit CRC plus a 2-bit credit return field or sideband used for credit-based flow control.

An access node for an Ethernet network is connected between an access point of user devices and a broadband remote access server for access to a plurality of service providing networks. It includes a VLAN handling unit having a memory for storing identifications of Ethernet frames transmitted in a first VLAN including the access node and a local virtual router function unit of the access server in a second VLANs. Each of the second VLANs including the access node, the local virtual router function unit and one of the virtual router function units of the access server for each of the virtual router function units. A control unit commands the handling unit to transmit frames from a new user device that has connected itself to the access point into the first virtual local area network. The control unit also receives information from the access server in respect of routing frames and its commands to the handling unit to transmit frames from user device which is connected to the access point and the frames from which are transmitted into the first VLAN to be instead transmitted into one of the second VLAN as given by the information received from the broadband remote access server, the frames thereby being transmitted to the server of the respective service providing network.

The use of Ethernet as an underlying transport for Fibre Channel (FC) frames is disclosed in the Fibre Channel Over Ethernet (FCOE) protocol. In FCOE, the FC physical layer and part of the FC-2 link layer are replaced with the Ethernet physical and link layers. Each FC frame is encapsulated within an Ethernet Frame. The payload of the FCOE frame contains type information from the FC Start Of Frame (SOF) indicator, the FC header, an optional FC payload, and type information from the FC End Of Frame (EOF) indicator. In one embodiment, an Ethernet network carrying FCOE replaces a standard FC network. In another embodiment, devices implementing FCOE may be implemented in a blade server. The entire backplane is Ethernet, over which both storage and networking traffic can be run. The Ethernet links are connected to an Ethernet switch, a FCOE / FC converter, and a FC switch.

A bridge forwarding method comprises: receiving a frame from an input port, obtaining the input VLAN ID and a destination MAC address of the frame; determining an output port and an output VLAN ID of the frame, and forwarding the frame according to the output port and the output VLAN ID. A bridge forwarding apparatus includes at least one output port used for receiving a frame from more than one VALN, at least one output port used for transmitting the frame to more than one VALN and a forwarding unit, the forwarding unit obtains the input VLAN ID and the destination MAC address in the frame, determines the output port and the output VLAN ID of the frame, and outputs the frame to the corresponding output port. The method and the apparatus of this invention can realize the bridge forwarding of the Ethernet frames between multiple VLANs.

Ethernet OAM connectivity check may be used to detect connectivity failures across a given pair of network elements on an Ethernet network. Connectivity check frames are generated and sent to a specific unicast DA or to a multicast DA. Once a network element begins to receive connectivity check frames, it expects to continue to receive further periodic connectivity check frames from that network element. If the network element stops receiving periodic connectivity check frames, it detects that connectivity to the sending network element is broken. Once a fault is identified, the fault may be verified using a loopback function, which causes a network element receiving an Ethernet frame to transmit a corresponding frame back to the original network element. Loopback may be intrusive such that all received frames are looped back except OAM frames, or non-intrusive where only OAM frames are looped back.

Described is a process and system for providing an extensible forwarding plane data communications channel adapted to selectively support operations, administration and maintenance (OAM) activity within one or more different domains of an Ethernet transport network. The data communication channel is established using Ethernet protocol data units forwarded within the forwarding plane, between network elements. The Ethernet protocol data units can be Ethernet OAM frames modified to include an OpCode indicative of a maintenance communication channel. The OAM frames are generated at a selected one of the network elements (source), forwarded along the same network path as the Ethernet frames, and terminate at another network element (destination) associated with a maintenance level identified within the OAM frame. The source and destination network elements can reside on a domain boundary using the Ethernet OAM frames flowing therebetween to relay maintenance communications channel messages.

A method and system for enabling Non-Volatile Memory express (NVMe) for accessing remote solid state drives (SSDs) (or other types of remote non-volatile memory) over the Ethernet or other networks. An extended NVMe controller is provided for enabling CPU to access remote non-volatile memory using NVMe protocol. The extended NVMe controller is implemented on one server for communication with other servers or non-volatile memory via Ethernet switch. The NVMe protocol is used over the Ethernet or similar networks by modifying it to provide a special NVM-over-Ethernet frame.

A method and system for enabling Non-Volatile Memory express (NVMe) for accessing remote solid state drives (SSDs) (or other types of remote non-volatile memory) over the Ethernet or other networks. An extended NVMe controller is provided for enabling CPU to access remote non-volatile memory using NVMe protocol. The extended NVMe controller is implemented on one server for communication with other servers or non-volatile memory via Ethernet switch. The NVMe protocol is used over the Ethernet or similar networks by modifying it to provide a special NVM-over-Ethernet frame.

The invention allows applications to transparently use a bus, such as the IEEE-1394 serial bus, as if it were an Ethernet (IEEE 802.3). In a conventional Ethernet, each node is assigned a unique 6-byte MAC address in order to receive frames addressed to it over the LAN. According to the invention, IEEE-1394 bus node identifiers are mapped to Ethernet MAC addresses using for example a digital signature algorithm. Ethernet frames are then “wrapped” into 1394 bus packets and addressed to the destination node using the hashed address. The receiver unwraps the 1394 packet and restores the Ethernet frame to its original form. An optimum packet size for transmission of Ethernet packets over the 1394 bus is selected with reference to speed topology maps in the 1394 bus nodes, and this optimum size is transmitted to bus nodes. This packet size is reported to TCP to specify the packet size, and all packets larger than that size are fragmented and reassembled at the receiving node. The protocol works transparently across networks that are linked via bridges.

An architecture for providing high-speed access over frequency-division multiplexed (FDM) channels allows transmission of ethernet frames and / or other data across a cable transmission network or other form of FDM transport. The architecture involves downstream and upstream FDM multiplexing techniques to allow contemporaneous, parallel communications across a plurality of frequency channels. Moreover, an automatic frequency control resolves some issues of a free-running clock in an upstream tuner of the central concentrator by performing adjustments based on the average frequency error of a number of active upstream tones. In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the automatic frequency control (AFC) utilizes a feedback loop for at least each active upstream tone. Also, the average of the active upstream tones is determined and is utilized in providing feedback to adjust the automatic frequency control (AFC).

A multiplex method of a virtual local area network (VLAN) switching (VS) tunnel includes the following steps. An ingress edge node of the VS tunnel maps a received customer data unit onto one virtual channel (VC) borne by the VS tunnel, and encapsulates the customer data unit into a VS tunnel Ethernet frame including a VS tag, a VC tag, and the customer data unit. The VC tag identifies the different VCs borne by the VS tunnel. An intermediate node of the VS tunnel switches the VS tunnel Ethernet frame according to the VS tag, and transports the customer data unit and the VC tag transparently in the VS tunnel. An egress edge node of the VS tunnel terminates the VS tunnel and the VC, recovers the customer data unit, and forwards the data according to the VC tag.

An Ethernet architecture is provided for connecting a computer system or other network entity to a dedicated Ethernet network medium. The network interface enables the transmission and receipt of data by striping individual Ethernet frames across a plurality of logical channels and may thus operate at substantially the sum of the individual channel rates. Each channel may be conveyed by a separate conductor (e.g., in a bundle) or the channels may be carried simultaneously on a shared medium (e.g., an electrical or optical conductor that employs a form of multiplexing). On a sending station, a distributor within the sender's network interface receives Ethernet frames (e.g., from a MAC) and distributes frame bytes in a round-robin fashion on the plurality of channels. Each “mini-frame” is separately framed and encoded for transmission across its channel. On a receiving station, the receiver's network interface includes a collector for collecting the multiple mini-frames (e.g., after decoding) and reconstructing the frame's byte stream (e.g., for transfer to the receiver's MAC). The first and last bytes of each frame and mini-frame are marked for ease of recognition. Multiple unique idle symbols may be employed for transmission during inter-packet gaps to facilitate the collector's synchronization of the multiple channels and / or enhance error detection. A maximum channel skew is specified, and each received channel may be buffered with an elasticity that is proportional to the maximum skew so that significant propagation delay may be encountered between channels without disrupting communications.

A method of converting legacy HFC CATV cable systems, which transmit data over the optical fiber portion of the system using the optical counterpart of analog RF waveforms, such as RF QAM waveforms transduced to corresponding optical QAM waveforms, to improved HFC CATV systems that transmit data over the optical fiber using optical fiber optimized protocols, such as Ethernet frames and other optical fiber optimized digital transport protocols. According to the method, most aspects of the legacy HFC CATV system may be retained, however at the CATV head end, the optical fiber transmitter system is replaced by an improved system that extracts the underlying symbols from legacy waveforms, packages these symbols into optical fiber optimized packets, and transmits downstream. The legacy optical fiber nodes are replaced with improved nodes capable of receiving the packets and remodulating the symbols into RF waveforms suitable for injection into the system's CATV cable.

A method and system for service interworking between an Ethernet communication network and an ATM network, in which a first network interface is operable to communicate with the Ethernet communication network using an Ethernet communication protocol. A second network interface is operable to communicate with the ATM communication network using an ATM protocol. A processing unit is in communication with the first network interface and the second network interface, in which the processing unit terminates frames received from a one of the ATM communication network and the Ethernet communication network and maps parameters corresponding to the received one of the ATM and Ethernet frames into the other of the ATM and Ethernet frames. The mapped parameters include connection configuration control plane information and data plane parameters corresponding to individual frames. The described methods can support single or multiple QoS levels.

A residential gateway (RG) for distributing multimedia services to residential and business premises is disclosed. The RG connects multiple communication devices, such as TVs, telephones, computers, security cameras, and utility billing devices, to an Ethernet based metro / access network through either an optic fiber or a coaxial cable. The RG multiplexes upstream data from various communication devices into Ethernet frames according to the said Fixed-bandwidth Multimedia to Ethernet (FibME) protocol, and transmit the Ethernet frames through the link between the RG and the metro network. The RG also distributes the downstream data from the metro network to their corresponding destination devices in real time, also according to the said FibME protocol. The default bandwidth between the residential premise and the metro network is 100 Mbps full duplex. One Gbps or ten Gbps can be implemented based on the same FibME protocol for business applications. A Global Ethernet Addressing System (Global-HEAS) which will simplify the switch for the Ethernet systems is also disclosed.

A method for communicating data is provided that includes receiving an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cell at a line card and generating an Ethernet frame that comprises the received ATM cell, an Ethernet-compatible header, and a data integrity element. The Ethernet frame is communicated to a first destination. The Ethernet frame is received at the first destination and directed to a second destination. At the second destination, the Ethernet frame is segmented into portions and reassembled in order to form an Ethernet packet. The Ethernet packet is then communicated to the first destination.

SAS over Enhanced Ethernet (SOE) controllers that integrate SAS and Enhanced Ethernet to perform a conversion between SAS and Enhanced Ethernet are disclosed. A central intelligence block can be employed to perform the mapping between SAS and Enhanced Ethernet. The SOE controller can include one or more Enhanced Ethernet Interfaces, one or more SAS interfaces, and a PCIe interface. The SOE controller can direct the I / O requests presented on one interface to another interface after performing some basic operations on the I / O requests, including protocol conversion. The SOE controller can include an intelligence mechanism for identifying the appropriate output ports for routing the I / O requests and redirecting them accordingly. In the case of routing I / O requests over Enhanced Ethernet, the SOE controller can perform SAS protocol conversion to map outgoing I / O requests into Enhanced Ethernet frames suitable for transmission over the Enhanced Ethernet network.

Aspects of a method and system for utilizing a single connection for efficient delivery of power and multimedia information are provided. In this regard, power supplied and / or received over a network link may be controlled based on multimedia content communicated over the network link. The multimedia content may be converted to and / or from Ethernet frames for communication over the network link utilizing audio video bridging. The multimedia content may be raw video or may be formatted according to, for example, HDMI or DisplayPort specifications. The power supplied may be controlled by selecting one of a plurality of power classes. The selection of power class may be based on resolution of the multimedia content, whether the multimedia comprises audio and / or video, and / or based on latency targets.

A method for processing storage data that is to be communicated over a network is provided. Initially, storage data to be transmitted over a network is provided. Once the data is provided, the method includes serializing the storage data using storage encapsulation protocol headers to generate serialized storage data. Then, the serialized storage data is encapsulated using a simple transport protocol to generate simple transport protocol data segments of the storage data. At this point, each of the simple transport protocol data segments are encapsulated into Ethernet frames. The Ethernet frames can then be communicated over standard Ethernet hubs and switches to enable communication to a selected storage target. In one example, the storage data is provided in the form of SCSI data, ATAPI data, and the like. This data can then be communicated to any storage target that may be connected to the network that is capable of processing the storage data.

A method and system for interworking between an Ethernet communication network and an ATM network, in which a first network interface is operable to communicate with the Ethernet communication network using an Ethernet communication protocol. A second network interface is operable to communicate with the ATM communication network using an ATM protocol. A processing unit is in communication with the first network interface and the second network interface, in which the processing unit encapsulates frames received from the Ethernet network into ATM frames, decapsulates frames received from the ATM network to recover Ethernet frames and maps parameters corresponding to the received one of the ATM and Ethernet frames into the other of the ATM and Ethernet frames, the mapped parameters including connection configuration control plane information and data plane parameters corresponding to individual frames.