Fibre accelerated pipe data transport

A data transfer method comprising:

• interconnecting a plurality of nodes via a fabric including at least a first link, wherein the first link is a Fibre Channel link;
• coupling a master server to the plurality of nodes via a network separate from the fabric, the master server being configured to coordinate allocation of pipes;
• allocating a first pipe having a unique first pipe identifier for use in transporting a first data stream within the first link;
• a first initiator node using the first link and the unique first pipe identifier to communicate with a first target node;
• allocating a second pipe having a unique second pipe identifier for use in transporting a second data stream within the first link;
• a second initiator node using the first link and the unique second pipe identifier to communicate with a second target node;
• and
• using the unique first pipe identifier and the unique second pipe identifier to distinguish data corresponding to the first data stream from data corresponding to the second data stream within the Fibre Channel link, thereby allowing concurrent data exchanges via the first pipe and second pipe via the Fibre Channel link.

In a computer system comprising a plurality of nodes, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions, wherein the instructions are executable by a processor to:

• enable a master server coupled to the plurality of nodes via a network separate from a fabric to coordinate allocation of pipes, wherein the plurality of nodes are interconnected via the fabric including at least a first link, wherein the first link is a Fibre Channel link;
• allocate a first pipe having a unique first pipe identifier for use in transporting a first data stream within the first link;
• cause a first initiator node to use the first link and the unique first pipe identifier to communicate with a first target node;
• allocate a second pipe having a unique second pipe identifier for use in transporting a second data stream within the first link;
• cause a second initiator node to use the first link and the unique second pipe identifier to communicate with a second target node;
• and
• wherein the unique first pipe identifier and the unique second pipe identifier are used to distinguish data corresponding to the first data stream from data corresponding to the second data stream within the Fibre Channel link, thereby allowing concurrent data exchanges via the first pipe and second pipe via the Fibre Channel link.