Method and apparatus for providing virtual ports with attached virtual devices in a storage area network
AssigneeBrocade Communications Systems, Inc.
InventorsNaveen S. Maveli, Subhojit Roy, Richard L Hammons, Carlos Alonso
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Abstract
Systems particularly a virtualization switch or a storage device, which include virtual ports connected to virtual devices with virtual worldwide names and virtual LUNs. Because Fibre Channel environment hosts can track worldwide names from one port to another and allow continuity in that regard, the virtual worldwide names are provided with relevant virtual LUNs and connected these to virtual ports so that the virtual devices can be moved as desired to overcome failures or to allow load balancing.
Claims18
An apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of network ports, a first port of said plurality of network ports to provide for apparent linkage to a device, a first address of the device being associated with said first port of said plurality of network ports, so that a worldwide name of the device is associated with said first port of said plurality of network ports;
- and
- an element that provides a second address associated with a different port of said plurality of network ports, said second addresses being associated with said worldwide name of the device to provide for apparent linkage to said different port of said plurality of network ports.
A method implemented in an apparatus, comprising:
- providing, by the apparatus, for an apparent linkage to a device by associating a first address of the device with a first port of a plurality of network ports of the apparatus so that a worldwide name of the device is associated with the first port of the plurality of network ports;
- and
- providing, by the apparatus, a second address associated with a different port of the plurality of network ports, said second address being associated with the worldwide name of the device to provide for an apparent linkage to the different port of the plurality of network ports.
A fabric comprising:
- a first apparatus including:
- a plurality of network ports, a first port of said plurality of network ports to provide for apparent linkage to a device, a first address of the device being associated with said first port of said plurality of network ports, so that a worldwide name of the device is associated with said first port of said plurality of network ports;
- and
- an element that provides a second address associated with a different port of said plurality of network ports, said second addresses being associated with said worldwide name of the device to provide for apparent linkage to said different port of said plurality of network ports,
- a second device having a second port coupled to said first network port;
- and
- a third device having a third port coupled to said different network port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.