System and method for improved communication in a storage network

A network node comprising:

• a control unit;
• and
• a plurality of local ports coupled to the control unit and configured to couple the network node to a network;
• wherein the control unit is configured to:
• select a first port from the plurality of local ports;
• select a second port from a plurality of ports of a second network node, the first port and the second port forming a first port pair;
• open a first connection between the first port and the second port for a data exchange between the network node and the second network node;
• determine whether a less desirable notice associated with the first port pair is received at the first port from a switch along a path of the first connection based on whether the less desirable notice includes an address of the network node and an address of the second network node;
• and
• when the less desirable notice is received, record the first port pair as being less desirable indicating that it would be advantageous to use a different port pair to exchange network packets with the second network node.

A network switching device comprising:

• a control unit;
• and
• a plurality of ports coupled to the control unit, the plurality of ports including a first port configured to couple the network switching device to a first network node;
• wherein the control unit is configured to:
• designate the first port as less desirable;
• monitor packets received on the plurality of ports to perform address learning;
• receive a packet on the first port from the first network node;
• determine an egress port, selected from the plurality of ports, for the packet based on the address learning and a destination address included in the packet;
• and
• when the egress port is designated as less desirable, transmit a less desirable notice to the first network node indicating that it would be advantageous for the first network node to exchange network packets using different ports.