Network fabric management via adjunct processor inter-fabric service link

A system for logically coupling a first independent switching fabric and a second independent switching fabric, each independent switching fabric including at least one switching element, the system comprising:

• an inter-fabric services device coupled to the first independent switching fabric and the second independent switching fabric, said inter-fabric services device adapted to logically manage the first and second independent switching fabrics as a single entity;
• a first inter-fabric services agent coupled to said inter-fabric services device and operating on a first switching element in the first switching fabric, said first inter-fabric services agent adapted to communicate with said inter-fabric services device;
• and
• a second inter-fabric services agent coupled to said inter-fabric services device and operating on a second switching element in the second switching fabric, said second inter-fabric services agent adapted to communicate with said inter-fabric services device.

A method for logically coupling two independent storage area network switching fabrics using an inter-fabric service link having first and second interfaces, each switching fabrics including at least one switching element, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving management data at the first interface of the inter-fabric service link from at least one switching element in the first switching fabric;
• receiving management data at the second interface of the inter-fabric service link from at least one element in the second switching fabric;
• analyzing the management data from the at least one element in the first switching fabric and the at least one element in the second switching fabric;
• and
• coordinating the management of the first and second switching fabrics within the inter-fabric service link.

A method for installing an inter-fabric service link between two independent switching fabrics within a storage area network, each switching fabric including at least one switching element, the method comprising:

• coupling at least one switching element in the first switching fabric to the inter-fabric service link;
• coupling at least one switching element in the second switching fabric to the inter-fabric service link;
• registering the at least one switching element in the first switching fabric within a first fabric map contained in the inter-fabric service link;
• and
• registering the at least one switching element in the second switching fabric within a second fabric map contained in the inter-fabric service link.

An inter-fabric services device for use with first and second independent switching fabrics, each independent switching fabric including at least one switching device, the inter-fabric services device comprising:

• means for receiving and transmitting management data between the first switching fabric and an inter-fabric service link;
• means for receiving and transmitting management data between a second switching fabric and the inter-fabric service link;
• means for processing the management data from the first and second switching fabrics;
• and
• means for coordinating the management of the first and second switching fabrics.

A storage area network comprising:

• a first independent switching fabric including at least one switching element;
• a second independent switching fabric including at least one switching element;
• a first interface adapted to transmit and receive management data from said first independent switching fabric;
• a second interface adapted to transmit and receive management data from said second independent switching fabric;
• and
• an inter-fabric adjunct processor coupled to a said first interface and said second interface, said inter-fabric adjunct processor adapted to analyze and respond to management data from said first and second independent switching fabrics.