# US 11,310,077 B2 · Transporting fibre channel over ethernet

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- Number: US 11,310,077 B2
- Document ID: US11310077B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/346,054
- Filed: 2021-06-11
- Published: 2021-09-30
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2003-10-21
- Assignees: Alpha Modus Ventures, LLC
- Applicants: Alpha Modus Ventures, LLC
- Inventors: Alex Henderson; John William Hayes; Walter Croft; Linda Elaine Eaton Hayes
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310077B2

## CPC

- H04L 12/4633: {Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling}
- H04L 12/413: with random access, e.g. carrier-sense multiple-access with collision detection [CSMA-CD]
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

Apparatus and system that perform the method of providing a FCoE Transformer including an Ethernet Interface and a Fibre Channel Interface, receiving, at the FCoE Transformer, an FCoE Frame via a Layer 2 Ethernet Switch, converting, at the FCoE Transformer, the FCoE Frame to a Fibre Channel Frame. The FCoE Frame includes a SOF field included in an FCoE Transport Header for providing an SOF character used to start the fibre channel frame, and the SOF field in the FCoE Transport Header is for encoding the SOF field, Fibre Channel Frame. The FCoE Frame includes an EOF field included in an FCoE Transport Header for providing an EOF character used to end the fibre channel frame, and the EOF field in the FCoE Transport Header is for encoding the EOF field, Fibre Channel Frame. The method includes transporting the Fibre Channel Frame.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of operating a FCoE transformer including an Ethernet interface and a fibre channel interface, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
receiving, at the the FCoE transformer, an FCoE frame via a layer 2 Ethernet switch;
converting, at the FCoE transformer, the FCoE frame to a fibre channel frame, wherein:
the FCoE frame includes a SOF field included in an FCoE transport header for providing an SOF character used to start the fibre channel frame, and the SOF field in the FCoE transport header is for encoding the SOF field, fibre channel frame, and
the FCoE frame includes an EOF field included in an FCoE transport header for providing an EOF character used to end the fibre channel frame, and the EOF field in the FCoE transport header is for encoding the EOF field, fibre channel frame; and
transporting the fibre channel frame.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a fibre channel device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising transporting the fibre channel frame to a fibre channel device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the FCoE frame is received from an FCoE HBA that includes a virtual fibre channel port and an Ethernet interface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the FCoE HBA is connected to the layer 2 Ethernet switch.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising transporting the fibre channel frame to a FCoE fabric.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising placing the FCoE transformer between a fibre channel device and an Ethernet device.

### Claim 8

A FCoE transformer comprising an Ethernet interface and a fibre channel interface, wherein the FCoE transformer is configured to:
receive an FCoE frame via a layer 2 Ethernet switch;
convert the FCoE frame to a fibre channel frame, wherein:
the FCoE frame includes a SOF field included in an FCoE transport header for providing an SOF character used to start the fibre channel frame, and the SOF field in the FCoE transport header is for encoding the SOF field, fibre channel frame, and
the FCoE frame includes an EOF field included in an FCoE transport header for providing an EOF character used to end the fibre channel frame, and the EOF field in the FCoE transport header is for encoding the EOF field, fibre channel frame; and
transport the fibre channel frame.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The FCoE transformer of claim 8, wherein the FCoE is further configured to transport the fibre channel frame to a fibre channel device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The FCoE transformer of claim 8, wherein the FCoE frame is received from an FC HBA that includes a virtual fibre channel port and an Ethernet interface.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The FCoE transformer of claim 8, wherein the FC HBA is connected to the layer 2 Ethernet switch.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The FCoE transformer of claim 11, wherein the FCoE is further configured to transport the fibre channel frame to a FCoE fabric.

### Claim 13

A system comprising:
a FCoE transformer comprising an Ethernet interface and a fibre channel interface, wherein the FCoE transformer is configured to:
receive an FCoE frame via a layer 2 Ethernet switch;
convert the FCoE frame to a fibre channel frame, wherein:
the FCoE frame includes a SOF field included in an FCoE transport header for providing an SOF character used to start the fibre channel frame, and the SOF field in the FCoE transport header is for encoding the SOF field, fibre channel frame, and
the FCoE frame includes an EOF field included in an FCoE transport header for providing an EOF character used to end the fibre channel frame, and the EOF field in the FCoE transport header is for encoding the EOF field, fibre channel frame; and
transport the fibre channel frame.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the FCoE is further configured to transport the fibre channel frame to a fibre channel frame.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the FCoE frame is received from an FC HBA that includes a virtual fibre channel port and an Ethernet interface.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the FC HBA is connected to the layer 2 Ethernet switch.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the FCoE is further configured to transport the fibre channel frame to a FCoE frame.