Method and apparatus for transparent communication between a fibre channel network and an Infiniband network

A method, comprising:

• creating a virtual second protocol target corresponding to one or more first protocol channel adapters;
• and
• emulating a fabric login procedure for the virtual second protocol target in response to a fabric frame directed to the virtual second protocol target, the fabric frame comprising a second protocol frame when received;
• wherein the first protocol is not the second protocol.

An apparatus, comprising:

• one or more second protocol ports;
• one or more first protocol ports;
• and
• a protocol conversion engine coupled between the second protocol and first protocol ports,
• wherein the engine is configured to:
• create a virtual first protocol target corresponding to one or more second protocol node ports;
• and
• emulate a subnet management agent (SMA) or a general service agent (GSA) of the virtual first protocol target in response to a management packet directed to the virtual first protocol target, the management packet comprising a first protocol packet when received;
• and
• wherein the first protocol is not the second protocol.

An apparatus, comprising:

• one or more second protocol ports;
• one or more first protocol ports;
• and
• a protocol conversion engine coupled between the second protocol and first protocol ports,
• wherein the engine is configured to:
• create a virtual second protocol target corresponding to one or more first protocol channel adapters;
• and
• emulate a fabric login procedure for the virtual second protocol target in response to a fabric frame directed to virtual second protocol target, the fabric frame comprising a second protocol frame when received;
• wherein the first protocol is not the second protocol.