Method and computing device performing a fabric deployment in a data center. The computing device stores a configuration file comprising first and second IPv6 base prefixes, and a fabric identifier. The computing device generates a host identifier, a fabric-wide IPv6 prefix by combining the first IPv6 base prefix and the fabric identifier, and a fabric-wide IPv6 address by combining the fabric-wide IPv6 prefix and the host identifier. The computing device determines a local node identifier and a local link identifier for a communication interface of the computing device. The computing device performs a (secure) neighbor discovery procedure for determining a remote node identifier and a remote link identifier for a communication interface of a remote computing device. The computing device generates a link IPv6 address based on the second IPv6 base prefix and at least some of: the local node and link identifiers, and the remote node and link identifiers.

A registered state change notification system includes a switch device that is coupled to a plurality of end devices to provide a fabric. An application executing on the switch device detects a change that is associated with a zone in the fabric that includes a plurality of end devices and, in response, generates a multicast Registered State Change Notification (RSCN) that includes a Zone Fiber Channel Identifier (FCID) that is associated with the zone. Subsequently and without the use of the application, multicast hardware included in the switch device sends the multicast RSCN including the Zone FCID to at least a subset of the plurality of end devices.

A registered state change notification system includes a switch device that is coupled to a plurality of end devices to provide a fabric. An application executing on the switch device detects a change that is associated with a zone in the fabric that includes a plurality of end devices and, in response, generates a multicast Registered State Change Notification (RSCN) that includes a Zone Fibre Channel Identifier (FCID) that is associated with the zone. Subsequently and without the use of the application, multicast hardware included in the switch device sends the multicast RSCN including the Zone FCID to at least a subset of the plurality of end devices.

Systems and methods for using a virtual machine fabric profiles to reduce virtual machine downtime during migration. An exemplary embodiment can provide a subnet manager (SM) and a virtual machine fabric profile that is accessible by the subnet manager, and where the virtual machine fabric profile includes a virtual host channel adapter (vHCA) configuration. The SM can receive a request to preregister the vHCA with a first physical host channel adapter (HCA) while the vHCA is already actively registered with a second physical HCA. The subnet manager can send the vHCA configuration to the first physical HCA for preregistration. After preregistration, the virtual link between the vHCA and a vSwitch of the first physical HCA can be left unestablished, until the SM determines that a virtual link between the vHCA and a vSwitch on the second physical HCA has been disconnected.

A technique includes hosting an Internet Storage Name Service (iSNS) server on a network switch to provide access to a plurality of subnets; and configuring the iSNS server to be an active server for a first subnet of a plurality of subnets and to be a backup server for a second subnet of the plurality of subnets.

A link aggregated FCoE system includes a target device, a first FCF device coupled to the target device and a LAG, and a second FCF device coupled to the LAG and to the first FCF device by an ICL. The first and second FCF devices are each associated with a common FCF MAC address. The first FCF device receives, through the LAG, first FCoE data traffic directed to the common FCF MAC address and including a target device destination identifier and, in response, forwards the first FCoE data traffic to the target. The second FCF device receives, through the LAG, second FCoE data traffic directed to the common FCF MAC address and including the target device destination identifier and, in response, forwards the second FCoE data traffic to the first FCF device so that the first FCF device may forward the second FCoE data traffic to the target device.

Methods, apparatus, and systems create virtualized networks within a physical network. These virtualized networks can support multiprotocols such as iSCSI, RoCE, NFS, or other high performance protocols. The virtualized subnetwork may contain enhanced separation capabilities from the larger network as well as automated creation. A method is provided for forwarding iSCSI frames by a switch. The methods consist of receiving commands at the switch to configure the ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) tables from a software defined network controller. An iSCSI frame is received by the switch from a first iSCSI device coupled to the switch. The switch looks up and matches the received iSCSI frame by one or more of the fields in a TCAM table entry. The TCAM table entry preferably is added from a command send from the software defined network controller. The received iSCSI frame is forwarded to a second iSCSI device coupled to the switch.

A persistent WWN-FCID assignment system includes a Fibre Channel (FC) networking device and a server device that sets a persistent WWN-FCID bit in a second fabric login that is directed to the FC networking device subsequent to a first fabric login that was directed to the FC networking device and that resulted in the assignment of an FCID to a WWN for the server device. An FC Forwarder (FCF) device is coupled to the FC networking device and the server device. The FCF device receives the second fabric login from the server device. In response to determining that the persistent WWN-FCID bit is set in the second fabric login, the FCF device sends the FC networking device a second fabric discovery corresponding to the second fabric login through a port that was used to send the FC networking device a first fabric discovery corresponding to the first fabric login.

The application provides a route synchronization method and an apparatus. The method includes: receiving, by a first FEF, an entire network address request message sent by a second FEF, where the entire network address request message includes an MAC address and an FC network segment of the second FEF; parsing, by the first FEF, the entire network address request message, acquiring the MAC address and the FC network segment of the second FEF, and storing the MAC address and the FC network segment of the second FEF in a routing table of the first FEF; and sending, by the first FEF, a response message to the second FEF, where the response message includes a MAC address and an FC network segment of the first FEF. Thus, distributed routing of an FCoE network is implemented, and scalability of the FCoE network is improved.

In one embodiment, an apparatus can include a filter module configured to receive multiple Media Access Control (MAC) addresses associated with multiple virtual ports instantiated at a first network device. Each virtual port from the multiple virtual ports can be associated with a MAC address from the multiple MAC addresses. The filter module can be configured to define a filter to be applied to a data frame sent between the first network device and a network switch, the filter being based at least in part on a MAC address prefix included in each MAC address from the plurality of MAC addresses. The MAC address prefix can include an identifier uniquely associated with a second network device at which the filter module operates.