Determining the configuration of an ethernet fabric

A method, comprising:

• initializing at least one Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) N_Port;
• coupling said at least one Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) N_Port to an Ethernet fabric;
• determining information associated with said Ethernet fabric;
• coupling an FCoE switch to said at least one FCoE N_Port through said Ethernet fabric;
• exchanging said information associated with said Ethernet fabric between at least one FCoE N_Port and said FCoE switch;
• and
• providing network management services based on said information associated with said Ethernet fabric
• wherein said information associated with said Ethernet fabric comprises:
• an indication of whether an Ethernet fabric is present between said FCoE switch and said FCoE N_Port;
• a count of a number Ethernet switches in said FCoE fabric when said Ethernet fabric is present;
• a list of IP addresses for each of Ethernet switches;
• and
• a configuration of said Ethernet fabrics attached to said at least one FCoE N_Port.

A system, comprising:

• a first Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) N_Port;
• an Ethernet fabric;
• and
• at least one additional FCoE N_Port, said first FCoE N Port communicatively couples to said at least one additional FCoE N_Port through said Ethernet fabric;
• a processing device coupled to said first FCoE N_Port and/or said at least one additional FCoE N_Port, said FCoE N_Ports operable to determine information associated with said Ethernet fabric, and exchange said information associated with said Ethernet fabric with said processing device, said processing device operable to provide network management services based on said information associated with said Ethernet fabric
• wherein said information associated with said Ethernet fabric is communicated between said first FCoE N_Port and said at least one additional FCoE N_Port via a port login (PLOGI) process, the information comprises:
• an indication of whether an Ethernet fabric presence between said first FCoE N_Port and said at least one additional FCoE N_Port;
• a count of a number Ethernet Switches in said Ethernet fabric when said Ethernet fabric is present;
• and
• a list of IP addresses for each of Ethernet Switch;
• a presence of said Ethernet fabrics attached to said FCoE N_Ports;
• and
• a configuration of said Ethernet switches in said Ethernet fabric attached to said FCoE N_Ports.

A system, comprising:

• a processing device within a Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) N_Port, said processing device operable to:
• receive information associated with an Ethernet fabric from a FCoE N_Port;
• and
• provide network management services based on said information associated with said Ethernet fabric;
• said FCoE N_Port operable to communicatively couple to at least one additional FCoE N_Port through said Ethernet fabric;
• said information associated with said Ethernet fabric is communicated between said first FCoE N_Port and said at least one additional FCoE N_Port via a port login (PLOGI) process, the information comprises:
• an indication of whether an Ethernet fabric presence between said first FCoE N_Port and said at least one additional FCoE N_Port;
• a count of a number Ethernet Switches in said Ethernet fabric when said Ethernet fabric is present;
• and
• a list of IP addresses for each of Ethernet Switch;
• and
• a configuration of said Ethernet switches in said Ethernet fabric attached to said FCoE N_Ports;
• and
• said FCoE N_Ports are implemented in at least one device selected from said group consisting of:
• a disk storage device;
• a host bus adapter (HBA);
• and
• an FCoE switch.