Method and apparatus for detecting and removing orphaned primitives in a fibre channel network
AssigneeQLOGIC, Corporation
InventorsJohn M Fike, William J. Wen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system for detecting orphaned CLS primitives in a fibre channel network having a fibre channel switch element coupled to an arbitrated loop is provided. The method includes, sending an OPN primitive to a switch element port's own AL_PA to open a connection with itself; and determining if a CLS primitive is received within a loop a latency period. If a CLS primitive is received within the latency period then the CLS primitive is classified as an orphan and the orphaned CLS primitive is removed by the switch element by enabling a firmware based removal feature. The switch element includes a port that arbitrates for the arbitrated loop ownership and sends an OPN primitive to its own AL_PA.
Claims17
A method for detecting orphaned close (CLS) primitives in a fibre channel network having a fibre channel switch element coupled to an arbitrated loop, the method comprising:
- sending an open (OPN) primitive from a switch element port to its own arbitrated loop physical address (AL_PA) to open a connection with itself;
- and
- determining if a CLS primitive is received by the switch element port within a loop latency period;
- and
- if a CLS primitive is received within the latency period, then the CLS primitive is classified as an orphan;
- wherein
- the latency period is either set at a desired value or determined.
A method for removing orphaned close( CLS) primitives in a fibre channel network having a switch element coupled to an arbitrated loop, the method comprising:
- detecting an orphaned CLS primitive in the loop;
- enabling a remove CLS primitive feature;
- and
- removing the orphaned CLS primitive by replacing it with a Current Fill Word.
A switch element coupled to an arbitrated loop in a fibre channel network, the switch element for detecting orphaned close CLS) primitives, the switch element comprising:
- a port for arbitrating for ownership of the arbitrated loop and for sending an open (OPN) primitive to its own arbitrated loop physical address (AL_PA) to open a connection with itself, the port being further for determining if a CLS primitive is received within a loop latency period;
- wherein if the port receives a CLS primitive within the latency period then the CLS primitive is classified as an orphan, and the latency period is either set at a desired value or determined.
A fibre channel based network, comprising:
- a switch element coupled to an arbitrated loop, the switch element for detecting orphaned CLS primitives, wherein the switch element includes a port for ownership of the arbitrated loop and for sending an open (OPN) primitive to its own arbitrated loop physical address (AL_PA) to open a connection with itself, the port being further for determining if a CLS primitive is received within a loop latency period;
- and
- wherein if the port receives a CLS primitive within the latency period then the CLS primitive is classified as an orphan, and the latency period is either set at a desired value or determined.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.