Method and apparatus for using fibre channel extended link service commands in a point-to-point configuration
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorGiles R. Frazier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides fibre channel networks the ability to use extended link service commands, previously confined to networks including a fabric controller, in a direct attach, point-to-point configuration.
Claims20
An apparatus in a Fibre Channel linked system for sending Extended Link Service commands over a link having no Fabric Controller, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a first N_Port attached to a first end of said fibre link having no Fabric Controller;
- b) a second N_Port attached to a second end of said fibre link;
- and
- c) a transmitter transmitting a state-change-registration Extended Link Service command over said fibre link to said second N_Port, said command registering said first N_Port with said second N_Port to receive notification of state changes from said second N_Port.
An apparatus in a Fibre Channel linked system for sending Extended Link Service commands over a link having no Fabric Controller, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a first N_Port attached to a first end of said fibre link having no Fabric Controller;
- b) a second N_Port attached to a second end of said fibre link;
- c) a receiver to receiving at said second N_Port a state-change-registration Extended Link Service command over said fibre link from said first N_Port, said command registering said first N_Port with said second N_Port to receive notification of state changes from said second N_Port;
- and
- d) a transmitter to send registered-state-change-notification Extended Link Service commands from said second N_Port to said first N_Port.
A method in a Fibre Channel linked system for sending Extended Link Service commands over a link having no Fabric Controller, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) attaching a first N_Port to a second N_Port by way of a fibre link having no Fabric Controller;
- and
- b) transmitting a state-change-registration Extended Link Service command from said first N_Port over said fibre link to said second N_Port, said command registering said first N_Port with said second N_Port to receive notification of state changes from said second N_Port.
A method in a Fibre Channel linked system for sending Extended Link Service commands over a link having no Fabric Controller, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) attaching a first N_Port to a second N_Port by way of a fibre link having no Fabric Controller;
- b) receiving an state-change-registration Extended Link Service command from said fibre link at said second N_Port, said command registering said first N_Port with said second N_Port to receive notification of state changes from said second N_Port;
- and
- c) transmitting registered-state-change-notification Extended Link Service commands from said second _Port to said first N)_Port.
A computer program product in a Fibre Channel linked system for sending Extended Link Service commands over a link having no Fabric Controller said computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer readable program code therein, said computer program product comprising:
- a) computer readable program code for attaching a first N_Port to a second N_Port by way of a fibre link having no Fabric Controller;
- and
- b) computer readable program code for transmitting a state-change-registration Extended Link Service command from said first N_Port over said fibre link to said second N_Port, said command registering said first N_Port with said second N_Port to receive notification of state changes from said second N_Port.
A computer program product in a Fibre Channel linked system for sending Extended Link Service commands over a link having no Fabric Controller, said computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer readable program code therein, said computer program product comprising:
- a) computer readable program code for attaching a first N_Port to a second N_Port by way of a fibre link having no Fabric Controller;
- b) computer readable program code for receiving an state-change-registration Extended Link Service command from said fibre link at said second N_Port, said command registering said first N_Port with said second N_Port to receive notification of state changes from said second N_Port;
- and
- c) computer readable program code for transmitting registered-state-change-notification Extended Link Service commands from said second N_Port to said first N)_Port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.