Facilitating communication between devices in a network

A machine-implemented method for facilitating communication between devices in a network, the network including at least one initiator device and a switch, the method comprising:

• an initiator port of the initiator device logging into the switch to communicate with a target device having a target port, the switch configured for receiving an input/output request from the initiator port and for reading and writing data at the target device accessible via the target port;
• the initiator port sending a registration request complying with a modified state change request protocol to the switch indicating that the initiator port should selectively receive notifications from the switch only when a state change occurs at the target port of the target device or other target ports of other target devices in the network;
• determining whether an acknowledgement is received from the switch indicating that the switch accepted the registration request;
• when it is determined that the switch accepted the registration request complying with the modified state change request protocol for selectively notifying the initiator port of state change notification, the initiator port of the initiator device configured to receive state change notification only when the target port or the other target ports change its state;
• and
• when no acknowledgement is received from the switch within a predetermined time interval, then sending a different registration request by the initiator port complying with a standard state change request protocol seeking notification when the target port of the target device, other target ports of other target devices or any initiator port of another initiator device changes its state.

A non-transitory, machine readable storage medium storing executable instructions, which when executed by a machine, causes the machine to perform a method for facilitating communication between devices in a network, the network including at least one initiator device and a switch, the method comprising:

• an initiator port of the initiator device logging into the switch to communicate with a target device having a target port, the switch configured for receiving an input/output request from the initiator port and for reading and writing data at the target device accessible via the target port;
• the initiator port sending a registration request complying with a modified state change request protocol to the switch indicating that the initiator port should selectively receive notifications from the switch only when a state change occurs at the target port of the target device or other target ports of other target devices in the network;
• determining whether an acknowledgement is received from the switch indicating that the switch accepted the registration request;
• when it is determined that the switch accepted the registration request complying with the modified state change request protocol for selectively notifying the initiator port of state change notification, the initiator port of the initiator device configured to receive state change notification only when the target port or the other target ports change its state;
• and
• when no acknowledgement is received from the switch within a predetermined time interval, then sending a different registration request by the initiator port complying with a standard state change request protocol seeking notification when the target port of the target device, other target ports of other target devices or any initiator port of another initiator port changes its state.