Method and apparatus for enabling communications and features in storage area networks

A network fiber channel (FC) switch, said network FC switch comprising:

• at least one port operative to receive at least one protocol frame, said protocol frame being received from another network FC switch connected to said network FC switch, said at least one protocol frame comprising information relevant to a manufacturer of said other network FC switch;
• a memory operative to store a plurality of peer switch manufacturer identifiers, each of said plurality of peer switch manufacturer identifiers identifying peer switches for which one or more features may be enabled for communicating with said network FC switch;
• a processor operative to:
• retrieve a first identifier of said other network FC switch from said at least one protocol frame, said first identifier comprising primary manufacturer information identifying a manufacturer of said other network FC switch;
• determine that said retrieved first identifier does not match one of a plurality of peer switch manufacturer identifiers stored in said memory of said network FC switch;
• and retrieve a second identifier of said other network FC switch from said at least one protocol frame when said retrieved first identifier does not match one of said plurality of peer switch manufacturer identifiers, said second identifier comprising secondary manufacturer information identifying said manufacturer of said other network FC switch;
• said processor being further operative to:
• update said plurality of peer switch manufacturer identifiers stored in memory of said network FC switch to include said retrieved first identifier;
• and enable at least one of said one or more features for said network FC switch to communicate with said other network FC switch upon determining that said retrieved second identifier matches one of said match one of said plurality of peer switch manufacturer identifiers.

One or more computer readable tangible storage media encoded with software comprising computer executable instructions and when the software is executed operative to:

• receive at least one protocol frame at a first network FC switch, said at least one protocol frame being received from a second network FC switch connected to said first network FC switch and comprising information related to a manufacturer of said second network FC switch;
• retrieve a first identifier of said second network FC switch from said at least one protocol frame, said first identifier comprising primary manufacturer information identifying a manufacturer of said second network FC switch;
• determine that said retrieved first identifier does not match one of a plurality of peer switch manufacturer identifiers stored in a memory of said first network FC switch, each of said plurality of peer switch manufacturer identifiers identifying peer switches for which one or more features may be enabled for communicating with said first network FC switch;
• retrieve a second identifier of said second network FC switch from said at least one protocol frame if said retrieved first identifier does not match one of said plurality of peer switch manufacturer identifiers, said second identifier comprising secondary manufacturer information identifying said manufacturer of said second network FC switch;
• and
• upon determining that said retrieved second identifier matches one of said plurality of peer switch manufacturer identifiers,
• update said plurality of peer switch manufacturer identifiers stored in memory of said first network FC switch to include said retrieved first identifier;
• and
• enable at least one of said one or more features for said first network FC switch to communicate with said second network FC switch.