Hardware-based translating virtualization switch

Details Hardware-based translating virtualization switch Hardware-based translating virtualization switch

2006-10-10

2006-10-10

Chace, Christian P. (Department: 2189)

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory

Addressing combined with specific memory configuration or...

Virtual machine memory addressing

C711S206000, C709S244000, C709S245000, C709S249000, C370S379000, C370S382000, C370S386000, C370S399000, C370S422000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07120728

ABSTRACT:
Placing virtualization agents in the switches which comprise the SAN fabric. Higher level virtualization management functions are provided in an external management server. Conventional HBAs can be utilized in the hosts and storage units. In a first embodiment, a series of HBAs are provided in the switch unit. The HBAs connect to bridge chips and memory controllers to place the frame information in dedicated memory. Routine translation of known destinations is done by the HBA, based on a virtualization table provided by a virtualization CPU. If a frame is not in the table, it is provided to the dedicated RAM. Analysis and manipulation of the frame headers is then done by the CPU, with a new entry being made in the HBA table and the modified frames then redirected by the HBA into the fabric. This can be done in either a standalone switch environment or in combination with other switching components located in a director level switch. In an alternative embodiment, specialized hardware scans incoming frames and detects the virtualized frames which need to be redirected. The redirection is then handled by translation of the frame header information by hardware table-based logic and the translated frames are then returned to the fabric. Handling of frames not in the table and setup of hardware tables is done by an onboard CPU.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4155119 (1979-05-01), De Ward et al.
patent: 2002/0010790 (2002-01-01), Ellis et al.
patent: 2002/0103943 (2002-08-01), Lo et al.
patent: 2002/0112113 (2002-08-01), Karpoff et al.
patent: 2003/0002503 (2003-01-01), Brewer et al.
patent: 2003/0005248 (2003-01-01), Selkirk et al.
patent: 2003/0037127 (2003-02-01), Shah et al.
patent: 2003/0061220 (2003-03-01), Ibrahim et al.
patent: 2003/0093541 (2003-05-01), Lolayekar et al.
patent: 2003/0131182 (2003-07-01), Kumar et al.
patent: 2003/0149848 (2003-08-01), Ibrahim et al.
patent: 2003/0172149 (2003-09-01), Edsall et al.
“Fibre Channel Methodologies for Interconnects (FC-MI) Rev 1.8,” NCITS working draft proposed Technical Report, Sep. 28, 2001.
“Fibre Channel—Fabric Generic Requirements (FC-FG)” American National Standards Institute, Dec. 4, 1996.
“Fibre Channel Protocol for SCSI,” American National Standards Institute, Inc., Apr. 8, 1996.
“Fibre Channel Generic Services (FC-GS) Rev 3.1,” American National Standard for Information Systems, Aug. 7, 1996.
“Fibre Channel Switch Fabric (FC-SW) Rev 3.3” NCITS working draft proposed American National Standard for information Technology, Oct. 21, 1997.
“Fibre Channel Switch Fabric—2 (FC-SW-2) Rev 5.3” NCITS working draft proposed American National Standard for Information Technology, Jun. 26, 2001.
“Fibre Channel Physical and Signaling Interface (FC-PH) Rev 4.3,” pp. 15-31, 90-132 & 205-222, working draft proposed American National Standard for Information Systems, Jun. 1, 1994.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Hardware-based translating virtualization switch does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Hardware-based translating virtualization switch, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hardware-based translating virtualization switch will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3696373