Method and apparatus for a fibre channel control unit to execute search commands locally
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsDaniel F. Casper, Robert J. Dugan, John R. Flanagan, Catherine C. Huang, Louis W. Ricci
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method for fibre channel control units to execute commands locally when a channel sends a repeat execute indicator in conjunction with certain other field settings, wherein the control unit will repeat and chain control words until certain predefined conditions occur.
Claims24
A method for fibre channel control units to repeat successful execution of a first control word in a command chain after receiving said first control word in a first header of a first information unit from a fibre channel link, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) receiving said first control word in said first information unit and receiving a second control word in a second information unit from said fibre channel link;
- b) repeating the successful execution of said first control word up to a predetermined number of times if a first condition is met;
- c) receiving a second control word in a second information unit from said fibre channel link;
- d) chaining to execute said second control word if a second condition is met;
- and,
- e) sending status to said fibre channel link after said repeating and said chaining are complete.
A method for a fibre channel to enable a control unit to repeat successful execution of control words and chain control words comprising the steps of:
- a) marking a first information unit containing a first control word with a repeat execute flag, permitting repeated successful execution of said first control word;
- b) transmitting said first information unit to a fibre channel link;
- c) transmitting a second information unit of a second control word to said fibre channel link;
- d) chaining to execute said second control word if a second condition is met;
- and
- e) sending status to said fibre channel link after said repeating and said chaining are complete.
An apparatus for fibre channel control units to repeat successful execution of a first control word in a command chain after receiving said first control word in a first header of a first information unit from a fibre channel link said apparatus comprising:
- a) a receiver receiving said first control word in said first information unit and receiving a second control word in a second information unit from said fibre channel link;
- b) a repeater repeating the successful execution of said first control word up to a predetermined number of times if a first condition is met;
- c) a chainer chaining to execute said second control word if a second condition is met;
- and,
- d) a sender sending status to said fibre channel link after said repeating and said chaining are complete.
An apparatus for a fibre channel to enable a control unit to repeat successful execution of control words and chain control words said apparatus comprising:
- a) an initiator marking a first information unit containing a first control word with a repeat execute flag, permitting repeated successful execution of said first control word;
- and,
- b) a transmitter transmitting said first information unit and a second information unit to a fibre channel link;
- c) a transmitter transmitting a second information unit of a second control word to said fibre channel links;
- d) chaining to execute said second control word if a second condition is met;
- and
- e) sending status to said fibre channel link after said repeating and said chaining are complete.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.