Generation of a request to initiate a secure data transfer in a computing environment

A computer-implemented method of facilitating processing within a computing environment, the computer-implemented method comprising:

• receiving a request from an initiator channel on an initiator node to initiate a secure communication with a responder channel on a responder node, the receiving at a local key manager (LKM) executing on the initiator node;
• creating a security association at the LKM between the initiator node and the responder node;
• obtaining an identifier of a shared key assigned for communication between the initiator node and the responder node;
• building, by the LKM, a message requesting initialization of the secure communication between the initiator channel and the responder channel, the message comprising the identifier of the shared key;
• and sending the message to the initiator channel wherein the message further comprises an initiator nonce and an initiator security parameter index (SPI) generated by the LKM for the secure communication,
• wherein encryption and decryption of data sent between the initiator and responder channels is based at least in part on the initiator nonce and the initiator SPI.

A computer system for facilitating processing within a computing environment, the computer system comprising:

• an initiator node;
• and a plurality of initiator channels coupled to the initiator node, wherein the computer system comprises one or more processors for executing computer readable instructions, the computer readable instructions controlling the one or more processors is configured to perform operations comprising:
• receiving a request from an initiator channel of the plurality of initiator channels to initiate a secure communication with a responder channel on a responder node, the receiving at a local key manager (LKM) executing on the initiator node;
• creating a security association at the LKM between the initiator node and the responder node;
• obtaining an identifier of a shared key assigned for communication between the initiator node and the responder node;
• building, by the LKM, a message requesting initialization of the secure communication between the initiator channel and the responder channel, the message comprising the identifier of the shared key;
• and sending the message to the initiator channel wherein the operations further comprise the initiator channel sending the message to the responder channel,
• wherein the message further comprises an initiator nonce and an initiator security parameter index (SPI) generated by the LKM for the secure communication, and the encryption and decryption of data sent between the initiator and responder channels is based at least in part on the initiator nonce and the initiator SPI.