Method and apparatus for reliably and asymmetrically distributing security information within a fibre channel fabric

A method, comprising

• generating a link state record (LSR) at a server device, the LSR including a virtual Domain_ID, the virtual Domain_ID identifying the server device within a switch fabric,
• wherein the switch fabric comprises a plurality of security server devices, the server device is one of the plurality of security server devices and the virtual Domain_ID comprises a common virtual security server Domain_ID used by each of the plurality of security server devices, and
• wherein each of the plurality of security server devices is configured to maintain a copy of a security database for the Switching Fabric;
• receiving a plurality of LSRs at the server device;
• sending out a plurality of LSRs including the common virtual security server Domain_ID, the virtual security server Domain_ID providing the identity of the server device to a plurality of other devices in the switch fabric, wherein using the common virtual security server Domain_ID in the LSRs facilitates load balancing of security server queries from the other devices across the plurality of security server devices, the security server queries directed to the security database.

A system, comprising

• a hardware unit configured to, either alone or in conjunction with software, generate a link state record (LSR) at a server device, the LSR including a virtual Domain_ID, the virtual Domain_ID identifying the server device within a switch fabric,
• the switch fabric comprises a plurality of security server devices, the server device is one of the plurality of security server devices and the virtual Domain_ID comprises a common virtual security server Domain_ID used by each of the plurality of security server devices,
• wherein each of the plurality of security server devices is configured to maintain a copy of a security database for the Switching Fabric;
• means for receiving a plurality of LSRs at the server device;
• means for sending out a plurality of LSRs including the common virtual security server Domain_ID, the virtual security server Domain_ID providing the identity of the server device to a plurality of other devices in the switch fabric, wherein using the common virtual security server Domain_ID in the LSRs facilitates load balancing of security server queries from the other devices across the plurality of security server devices, the security server queries directed to the security database.