Methods and apparatus for improving network based virtualization performance

A method of processing traffic in an arbitrated loop of a Fibre Channel network, comprising:

• ascertaining whether a switch implementing network-based virtualization is coupled to the arbitrated loop;
• when a switch implementing network-based virtualization is coupled to the arbitrated loop, setting a fairness indicator associated with the arbitrated loop, the fairness indicator indicating that fairness is enabled when the fairness indicator is in a first state and indicating that fairness is disabled when the fairness indicator is in a second state, wherein the fairness indicator is associated with an interface of the switch that is coupled to the arbitrated loop;
• and
• when a switch implementing network-based virtualization is not coupled to the arbitrated loop, configuring a loop tenancy associated with the arbitrated loop.

A switch configured to process traffic in an arbitrated loop of a Fibre Channel network, the switch having a plurality of interfaces, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory;
• and
• a data structure or register, the data structure or register including a fairness indicator associated with each of the plurality of interfaces of the switch, the fairness indicator indicating that fairness is enabled for the corresponding interface when the fairness indicator is in a first state and indicating that fairness is disabled for the corresponding interface when the fairness indicator is in a second state;
• wherein a requesting entity on an arbitrated loop coupled to one of the plurality of interfaces may send an arbitration request when the fairness indicator for the one of the plurality of interfaces coupled to the arbitrated loop is in the first state, the arbitration request forcing a transmitting entity that is transmitting frames on the arbitrated loop to relinquish control of the arbitrated loop.

A computer-readable medium storing thereon computer-readable instructions for processing traffic in an arbitrated loop of a Fibre Channel network, comprising:

• instructions for ascertaining whether a switch implementing network-based virtualization is coupled to the arbitrated loop, the switch having a plurality of interfaces;
• instructions for setting a fairness indicator associated with the arbitrated loop when a switch implementing network-based virtualization is coupled to the arbitrated loop, the fairness indicator indicating that fairness is enabled when the fairness indicator is in a first state and indicating that fairness is disabled when the fairness indicator is in a second state, wherein the fairness indicator is associated with an interface of the switch that is coupled to the arbitrated loop;
• and
• instructions for configuring a loop tenancy associated with the arbitrated loop when a switch implementing network-based virtualization is not coupled to the arbitrated loop.

An apparatus for processing traffic in an arbitrated loop of a Fibre Channel network, comprising:

• means for ascertaining whether a switch implementing network-based virtualization is coupled to the arbitrated loop, the switch having a plurality of interfaces;
• means for setting a fairness indicator associated with the arbitrated loop when a switch implementing network-based virtualization is coupled to the arbitrated loop, the fairness indicator indicating that fairness is enabled when the fairness indicator is in a first state and indicating that fairness is disabled when the fairness indicator is in a second state, wherein the fairness indicator is associated with an interface of the switch that is coupled to the arbitrated loop;
• and
• means for configuring a loop tenancy associated with the arbitrated loop when a switch implementing network-based virtualization is not coupled to the arbitrated loop.