Multicast transmission protocol for fabric services
AssigneeBrocade Communications Systems, Inc.
InventorEzio Valdevit
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The use of multicast transmission for all the data that has to be sent directly from one switch to every switch in the fabric, such as Fabric Service commands. This does not include data flooded through the fabric (as opposed to being sent to each switch individually) like ELPs or FSPF updates. With multicast transmission, a switch needs to execute only one transmission operation to send the same copy of a message to all other switches. Only one copy needs to be queued, and only one copy at the most traverses an ISL in the fabric.
Claims45
A method for transmitting a fabric services command in a fabric, the fabric formed by a plurality of switches and the fabric services command directed to the switches, the method comprising:
- forming a multicast group of the switches to receive the fabric services command;
- preparing a fabric services command and addressing it to the multicast group;
- and
- transmitting the fabric services command addressed to the multicast group.
A switch for transmitting a fabric services command in a fabric, the fabric formed by a plurality of switches and the fabric services command directed to the switches, the switch comprising:
- a microprocessor;
- memory connected to said microprocessor to hold programs and data;
- and
- a fabric device coupled to said microprocessor and for coupling to other switches,
- wherein the memory contains a program to cause said microprocessor to:
- form a multicast group of the switches to receive a fabric services command;
- prepare a fabric services command and address it to said multicast group;
- and
- transmit said fabric services command addressed to said multicast group.
A communication fabric comprising:
- a plurality of switches;
- and
- links interconnecting various of said plurality of switches to allow communication between the switches in said plurality of switches,
- wherein at least one switch of said plurality of switches transmits a fabric services command, the fabric services command directed to the switches in said plurality of switches, and wherein said at least one switch includes:
- a microprocessor;
- memory connected to said microprocessor to hold programs and data;
- and
- a fabric device coupled to said microprocessor and connected to at least two links,
- wherein the memory contains a program to cause said microprocessor to:
- form a multicast group of the switches to receive a fabric services command;
- prepare a fabric services command and address it to said multicast group;
- and
- transmit said fabric services command addressed to said multicast group.
A computer readable medium containing software for transmitting a fabric services command in a fabric, the fabric formed by a plurality of switches and the fabric services command directed to the switches, the software for instructing a microprocessor to perform the steps of:
- forming a multicast group of the switches to receive a fabric services command;
- preparing a fabric services command and address it to said multicast group;
- and
- transmitting said fabric services command addressed to said multicast group.
A communication network comprising:
- a host;
- a storage device;
- a plurality of switches;
- links interconnecting various of said plurality of switches to allow communication between the switches in said plurality of switches;
- and
- links connecting said host and said storage device to separate switches of said plurality of switches,
- wherein at least one switch of said plurality of switches transmits a fabric services command, the fabric services command directed to the switches in said plurality of switches, and wherein said at least one switch includes:
- a microprocessor;
- memory connected to said microprocessor to hold programs and data;
- and
- a fabric device coupled to said microprocessor and connected to at least two links,
- wherein the memory contains a program to cause said microprocessor to:
- form a multicast group of the switches to receive a fabric services command;
- prepare a fabric services command and address it to said multicast group;
- and
- transmit said fabric services command addressed to said multicast group.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.