LUN based hard zoning in fibre channel switches

A method for processing frames using logical unit number (LUN) based hard zoning in a fibre channel network, comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving a frame at a fibre channel port of a fibre channel switch element;
• (b) comparing a source identifier field in the frame using a look up table having a plurality of entries;
• wherein based on a compare mask, one or more of a Domain value, an Area value and a port identifier value in the source identifier of the frame is compared with the plurality of look up table entries;
• (c) rejecting the frame if multiple entries in the look up table match the source identifier field in the frame;
• (d) rejecting the frame after a match is found in step (b) and if a control code has a first value and a LUN table address field has a first value, wherein the LUN table address field is interpreted based on the control code value;
• (e) transmitting the frame, after the source identifier field in the frame matches a look up table entry in step (b) and if the control code has the first value and the LUN address field has a second value, which identifies a valid LUN;
• (f) using a LUN value in the frame to index a LUN bit map table, if (i) the frame is an FCP_CMD, (ii) the control code has the second value and (iii) the source identifier field in the frame matches a look up table entry;
• and if an entry in the LUN bitmap table corresponding to the LUN value in the frame is set, then the frame is accepted, otherwise, the frame is rejected;
• and
• (g) transmitting the frame (i) if the frame is a non_FCP_CMND, (ii) if the source identifier field in the frame matches a look up table entry and (iii) if the control code has the second value.