Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090052345 | Method and Apparatus for an Adapter in a Network Device to Discover its Adapter Name in a Network System - A network system supports multiple network communication protocols. In one embodiment, network device driver software provides a “Fibre Channel over Ethernet” communication capability and methodology. Device driver software manages a Fibre Channel to Ethernet and Ethernet to Fibre Channel address translation in real time for data packet communications in the network system. Different embodiments of the disclosed network system include multiple name servers and network device driver software that together provide multiple adapter name discovery methodologies. In one embodiment, the adapter name discovery methodologies include port name discovery and adapter attributes discovery. | 02-26-2009 |
20090052346 | Method and Apparatus for Enabling an Adapter in a Network Device to Discover the Name of Another Adapter of Another Network Device in a Network System - A network system supports multiple network communication protocols. In one embodiment, network device driver software provides a “Fibre Channel over Ethernet” communication capability and methodology. Device driver software manages a Fibre Channel to Ethernet and Ethernet to Fibre Channel address translation in real time for data packet communications in the network system. Different embodiments of the disclosed network system include multiple name servers and network device driver software that together provide multiple adapter name discovery methodologies. In one embodiment, the adapter name discovery methodologies include port name discovery and adapter attributes discovery. | 02-26-2009 |
20090052461 | Method and Apparatus for Fibre Channel Over Ethernet Data Packet Translation Via Look up Table Conversion Bridge in a Network System - A network system supports multiple network communication protocols. In one embodiment, network device driver software provides a “Fibre Channel over Ethernet” communication capability and methodology. Device driver software manages a Fibre Channel to Ethernet and Ethernet to Fibre Channel address translation in real time for data packet communications in the network system. Different embodiments of the disclosed network system include multiple name servers and network device driver software that together provide multiple adapter name discovery methodologies. In one embodiment, the adapter name discovery methodologies include port name discovery and adapter attributes discovery. | 02-26-2009 |
20090193142 | Method to Allow a Host to Replace Logical Path Resources it Owns - A method for replacing logical path resources, a host is able to replace a logical path it owns with a new logical path. Such a system is especially applicable when the condition of “out of resources” has been reached for a port. With this system, a host is guaranteed that it can replace a logical path it owns with a new logical path. It is not necessary for a control unit to have reached its maximum number of logical paths per port. A host is able to replace one logical path with a new logical path any time. | 07-30-2009 |
20090193145 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM TO DYNAMICALLY MANAGE LOGICAL PATH RESOURCES - A system, apparatus, and method dynamically manages logical path resources by adding, removing, and establishing logic paths based on specified priority schemes associated with the logical path resources. Information associated with the logical path resources is updated in a logical path resource table. | 07-30-2009 |
20090210560 | CANCEL INSTRUCTION AND COMMAND FOR DETERMINING THE STATE OF AN I/O OPERATION - The state of an input/output (I/O) operation is determined in an I/O processing system. A command is received from an I/O operating system at a channel subsystem for initiating the I/O operation, a time period is for completion of the I/O operation, and the command for initiating the I/O operation is sent from the channel subsystem to the control unit. Responsive to the time period nearing elapsing without the I/O operation completing, a cancel instruction is received from the I/O operating system at the channel subsystem. Responsive to a determination by the I/O operating system to interrogate the control unit, an instruction to interrogate the control unit is received with the cancel instruction from the I/O operating system. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210561 | PROCESSING OF DATA TO PERFORM SYSTEM CHANGES IN AN INPUT/OUTPUT PROCESSING SYSTEM - A computer program product, an apparatus, and a method for processing communications between a target and an initiator an input/output processing system are provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes: sending a message from the initiator to the target, the message requesting suspension of input/output operations between the initiator and the target for a period of time, the period of time being defined by the message; responsive to the message, suspending input/output operation messages for the period of time; performing a system change comprising at least one of: at least one update, a computer program installation, a recovery, and a change in operating parameters; and initiating new input/output operations after at least one of: expiration of the period of time and initiation of new input/output operations by the initiator. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210562 | PROCESSING COMMUNICATION DATA IN A SHIPS PASSING CONDITION - Articles of manufacture, apparatuses, and methods for processing communications between a control unit and a channel subsystem in an input/output processing system are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention include an article of manufacture including at least one computer usable medium having computer readable program code logic to processing communications between a control unit and a channel subsystem in an input/output processing system. The computer readable program code logic performs a method including: sending a message in a first mode from the control unit to the channel subsystem; receiving a command in a second mode from the channel subsystem at the control unit; determining whether the command is responsive to the message; and responsive to the command being not responsive to the message, determining whether to perform one of i) executing the command and ii) terminating the command. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210564 | PROCESSING OF DATA TO SUSPEND OPERATIONS IN AN INPUT/OUTPUT PROCESSING SYSTEM - A computer program product, an apparatus, and a method for processing communications between a target and an initiator an input/output processing system are provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes: sending a message between the initiator and the target, the message requesting suspension of input/output operations between the initiator and the target for a period of time, the period of time being defined by the message; and responsive to the message, suspending input/output operation messages for the period of time. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210570 | EXTENDED MEASUREMENT WORD DETERMINATION AT A CHANNEL SUBSYSTEM OF AN I/O PROCESSING SYSTEM - An article of manufacture, an apparatus, and a method for determining an extended measurement word at a channel subsystem of an I/O processing system using data from a control unit are provided. The article of manufacture includes at least one computer usable medium having computer readable program code logic. The computer readable program code logic performs a method including sending a command message to the control unit, and receiving a transport response information unit message at the channel subsystem in response to sending the command message to the control unit. The computer readable program code logic additionally extracts a plurality of time values from the transport response information unit message as calculated by the control unit, calculates an extended measurement word as a function of the time values, and writes the extended measurement word to computer readable memory in the I/O processing system. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210572 | COMPUTER COMMAND AND RESPONSE FOR DETERMINING THE STATE OF AN I/O OPERATION - A computer program product, apparatus, and method are provided for determining a state of an input/output (I/O) operation in an I/O processing system. A request from a channel subsystem is received at a control unit for performing the I/O operation. After a predetermined amount of time passes without the I/O operation completing, an interrogation request is received from the channel subsystem at the control unit for determining the state of the I/O operation. A response is sent from the control unit to the channel subsystem indicating the state of the I/O operation in response to the interrogation request. The response also includes information regarding a state of an I/O device executing the I/O operation and information indicating a state of the control unit controlling the I/O device executing the I/O operation. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210573 | COMPUTER COMMAND AND RESPONSE FOR DETERMINING THE STATE OF AN I/O OPERATION - A state of an input/output (I/O) operation in an I/O processing system is determined. A request for performing the I/O operation is received from an I/O operating system at a channel subsystem and forwarded to a control unit controlling an I/O device for executing the I/O operation. After a predetermined amount of time passes without receiving indication from the control unit that the I/O operation is completed, an interrogation request is received at the channel subsystem from the I/O operating system for determining the state of the I/O operation. An interrogation command is sent from the channel subsystem to the control unit. A response is received from the control unit, the response indicates a state of the I/O device executing the I/O operation, a state of the control unit controlling the I/O device executing the I/O operation, and the state of the I/O operation being executed. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210579 | OPEN EXCHANGE LIMITING IN AN I/O PROCESSING SYSTEM - A computer program product, an apparatus, and a method for limiting a number of open exchanges at a channel subsystem of an I/O processing system using data from a control unit. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method that includes sending a command message to the control unit, and receiving a transport response information unit message in response. The method further includes extracting a maximum control unit exchange parameter from the transport response information unit message, and determining a limit value for a maximum number of open exchanges between the channel subsystem and the control unit as a function of the extracted maximum control unit exchange parameter. The method additionally includes applying the limit value to prevent opening of a new exchange. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210582 | PROVIDING EXTENDED MEASUREMENT DATA IN AN I/O PROCESSING SYSTEM - An article of manufacture, an apparatus, and a method for providing extended measurement word data from a control unit to a channel subsystem of an I/O processing system are disclosed. The article of manufacture includes at least one computer usable medium having computer readable program code logic. The computer readable program code logic performs a method including receiving a command message from the channel subsystem at the control unit, and initiating a timing calculation sequence of a plurality of time values in response to receiving the command message at the control unit. The computer readable program code logic also populates extended measurement word data at the control unit including the plurality of time values, and outputs the extended measurement word data from the control unit to the channel subsystem. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210583 | RESERVED DEVICE ACCESS CONTENTION REDUCTION - A computer program product, an apparatus, and a method for reducing reserved device access contention at a control unit in communication with a plurality of operating systems via one or more channels are provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method that includes receiving a command message at the control unit from a first operating system, including an I/O operation command for a device. A device busy indicator is received, indicating that a second operating system has reserved the device. The command message is queued on a device busy queue in response to the device busy indicator. The control unit monitors for a device end indicator. The device busy queue is serviced to perform the I/O operation command in response to the device end indicator. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210584 | EXCEPTION CONDITION DETERMINATION AT A CONTROL UNIT IN AN I/O PROCESSING SYSTEM - A computer program product, apparatus, and method for providing exception condition feedback at a control unit to a channel subsystem in an I/O processing system are provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes receiving a command message at the control unit from the channel subsystem, and detecting an exception condition in response to unsuccessful execution of at least one command in the command message. The method further includes identifying a termination reason code associated with the exception condition, writing the termination reason code to a response message, and sending the response message to the channel subsystem. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210585 | PROCESSING OF DATA TO SUSPEND OPERATIONS IN AN INPUT/OUTPUT PROCESSING LOG-OUT SYSTEM - A computer program product, an apparatus, and a method for processing communications between a control unit and a channel subsystem in an input/output processing system are provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes: sending a Process Log-out (PRLO) message from the control unit to the channel subsystem, the message requesting suspension of input/output operations between the control unit and the channel subsystem for a period of time, the period of time being defined by the PRLO message; responsive to the PRLO message, suspending by the channel all input/output operation messages for the period of time, wherein suspending comprises stopping input/output operation messages during the period of time; and responsive to an expiration of the period of time, sending a Process Log-in (PRLI) message from the channel subsystem to the control unit to re-initiate an operating environment between the channel subsystem and the control unit. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210768 | EXCEPTION CONDITION HANDLING AT A CHANNEL SUBSYSTEM IN AN I/O PROCESSING SYSTEM - A computer program product, apparatus, and method for handling exception condition feedback at a channel subsystem of an I/O processing system using data from a control unit are provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes sending a command message to the control unit, and receiving a response message in response to the command message. The response message includes exception condition feedback identifying a termination reason code in response to unsuccessful execution of at least one command in the command message. The method also includes interrupting a CPU in the I/O processing system, and reporting status associated with the exception condition feedback to the CPU in an interrupt response block. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210769 | MULTIPLE CRC INSERTION IN AN OUTPUT DATA STREAM - A computer program product, apparatus, and method for inserting multiple CRCs in an output data stream from a channel subsystem to a control unit are provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes receiving a message to transmit from the channel subsystem to the control unit. The method also includes determining a first CRC insertion position, and receiving a first CRC calculated over a first block of data in the message. The method additionally includes inserting the first calculated CRC at the first CRC insertion position, and determining a second CRC insertion position. The method further includes receiving a second CRC calculated over a second block of data in the message, and inserting the second calculated CRC at the second CRC insertion position. | 08-20-2009 |
20090210884 | PROCESSING OF DATA TO DETERMINE COMPATABILITY IN AN INPUT/OUTPUT PROCESSING SYSTEM - A computer program product, an apparatus, and a method for processing communications between a control unit and a channel subsystem in an input/output processing system are provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method including: sending a message from the channel subsystem to the control unit in a first mode; receiving a response from the control unit and determining from the response whether the control unit supports a message protocol; and responsive to the message protocol being supported by the control unit, sending another message using the message protocol from the channel subsystem to the control unit to determine whether the control unit supports a second mode. | 08-20-2009 |
20090245242 | Virtual Fibre Channel Over Ethernet Switch - A system for using a virtual switch in a network. In response to a switch connecting to a network, network configuration data is read to determine whether the switch is part of a virtual switch. In response to determining that the switch is part of the virtual switch, a priority number for the switch is sent to other switches connected to the network. Priority numbers are received from the other switches. It is determined whether the switch has a highest priority number. In response to determining that the switch does have the highest priority number, the switch is selected to be a master switch for the virtual switch. Then, domain identification data for the virtual switch is sent to the other switches. Afterward, the switch and the other switches respond to requests over the network as one domain identified by the domain identification data. | 10-01-2009 |
20100017497 | Network System with Initiator SubNetwork Communication to Target Subnetwork Communication Including Fibre Channel Over Ethernet to Fibre Channel Over Internet Protocol Conversion - A network system supports multiple network communication protocols. An Ethernet component gateway in a Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) initiator system converts FCoE data packets from host devices to Fibre Channel over Internet Protocol (FCIP) data packets for transmission to a Storage Area Network (SAN) target system. The SAN target system may include a target Fibre Channel (FC) storage device and a SAN component gateway. The SAN component gateway converts FCIP data packets to SAN data packets for use by the target FC storage device. The SAN data packets may be either FC protocol data packets or FCoE protocol data packets. The SAN target system may provide for discovery of target FC storage device adapter information. | 01-21-2010 |
20100023801 | Method to recover from ungrouped logical path failures - A system and method for recovering from a single logical path failure. More specifically, although a host has not grouped its logical paths, the host knows which logical paths it has available. When a host detects a logical path failure, the host enters a path discovery mode of operation. If the host continues to detect a logical path failure while operating in the logical path discovery mode of operation, the host removes the logical path from a logical path mask, and the host does not use the removed logical path again. In the case of ungrouped logical paths, the host aborts its process because it does not have more paths available to continue its process. Additionally, in certain embodiments, a pseudo path group for ungrouped logical paths is created. | 01-28-2010 |
20100080117 | Method to Manage Path Failure Threshold Consensus - A system for providing hosts with a capability to determine which threshold rule of a plurality of threshold rules to use based upon threshold consensus. For example, the system would address a configuration case of several hosts sharing an output port of a fabric via zoning and that port being connected to a single port of a storage controller. If one host is executing lower priority jobs and its threshold is much higher than another host with higher priority jobs and a lower threshold, and the storage controller recognizes that several hosts are sharing the same storage controller port, the consensus will be to ignore the threshold of the first host and to use the threshold of the second host to prevent performance degradation in the system. | 04-01-2010 |
20100083061 | Method to Manage Path Failure Thresholds - A failure threshold host command that provides a host with the capability to tune a storage controller path failure threshold based on the host application performance requirements. The failure threshold host command comprises path failure threshold rules that the storage controller uses to determine when a CHPid has reached a failed state condition. | 04-01-2010 |
20100097941 | Redundant Intermediary Switch Solution for Detecting and Managing Fibre Channel over Ethernet FCoE Switch Failures - A method for detecting a switch failure and managing switch failover in a Fibre Channel over Ethernet network. The plurality of Fibre Channel over Ethernet switches are connected to an intermediary Ethernet switch and to each other via an Ethernet connection. The intermediary Ethernet switch is different from the plurality of Fibre Channel over Ethernet switches. A plurality of end polls are also connected to the intermediary Ethernet switch. A failure is detected in a first switch in the plurality of Fibre Channel over Ethernet switches. The first switch is associated with a first end port in the plurality of end ports. A failure notification is sent to the first end port using the intermediary Ethernet switch. The failure notification might specify a second switch destination and an identification of the first switch. A fabric login is exchanged between the first end port and the second switch. | 04-22-2010 |
20100103939 | DETERMINING THE CONFIGURATION OF AN ETHERNET FABRIC - A Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) device obtains knowledge of the configuration of an attached Ethernet fabric during a fabric initialization or login (FLOGI) process. FCoE N_Ports obtain similar information during the port initialization or login (PLOGI) process. The FCoE device may provide network management services to attached FCoE devices. Embodiments include a management module or processor within an FCoE N_Port. The management module or processor receives information associated with an Ethernet fabric from the FCoE N_Ports and provides management services based on the information associated with the Ethernet fabric. The FCoE N_Port communicatively couples to at least one additional FCoE N_Port through the Ethernet fabric. The FCoE N_Ports may be implemented within a disc storage drive, a host bus adapter, and/or an FCoE switch. The capability of an N_Port to obtain this information allows a management module or processor at the N_Port to manage the Ethernet fabric. | 04-29-2010 |
20100104280 | FIBRE CHANNEL FRAMING AND SIGNALING OPTIONAL HEADER FOR ETHERNET FABRIC CONFIGURATION INFORMATION - A Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) device obtains knowledge of the configuration of an attached Ethernet fabric from data fields within a frame header during a fabric initialization or login (FLOGI) process. FCoE N_Ports obtain similar information during the port initialization or login (PLOGI) process. The FCoE device may provide network management services to attached FCoE devices. Embodiments include a management module or processor within an FCoE N_Port. The management module or processor receives a frame having a header and validates and extracts information associated with an Ethernet fabric from the FCoE N_Ports and in order to provide management services based on the information associated with the Ethernet fabric. The FCoE N_Port communicatively couples to at least one additional FCoE N_Port through the Ethernet fabric. The FCoE N_Ports may be implemented within a disc storage drive, a host bus adapter, and/or an FCoE switch. The capability of an N_Port to obtain this information allows a management module or processor at the N_Port to manage the Ethernet fabric. | 04-29-2010 |
20110032933 | Apparatus, System, and Method for Establishing Point to Point Connections in FCOE - An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for establishing a point-to-point connection using Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE). The point-to-point connection is established as part of the FCoE Initialization Protocol (FIP). A first computing device sends a FIP discovery solicitation to a predefined address such as ALL-FCF-MACs. The first computing device also listens to the local ALL-FCF-MACs address and determines whether or not there are any switches in the fabric connecting the first computing device and the second computing device. If there are no switches, the first computing device sends a second FIP discovery solicitation with a point-to-point indicator. If the first computing device receives a similar FIP discovery solicitation from the second computing device, it sends a FIP discovery advertisement with the point-to-point indicator. The first computing device and second computing device then perform fabric login and establish a point to point connection. | 02-10-2011 |
20110072153 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR DEVICE LEVEL ENABLEMENT OF A COMMUNICATIONS PROTOCOL - An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for device level enablement of a communications protocol. An adapter compatibility module determines an adapter compatibility status for a plurality of host adapters. A positive adapter compatibility status indicates that each host adapter in the plurality of host adapters is compatible with a communications protocol. A processor compatibility module determines a processor compatibility status for one or more processors. The one or more processors coordinate data transfers to and from the plurality of host adapters. A positive processor compatibility status indicates that each of the one or more processors is compatible with the communications protocol. A compatibility summary module determines a compatibility summary for the plurality of host adapters and the one or more processors. The compatibility summary indicates a positive compatibility relative to the communications protocol in response to a positive processor compatibility status and a positive adapter compatibility status. | 03-24-2011 |
20110191660 | Apparatus, System, and Method for Specifying Intermediate CRC Locations in a Data Stream - An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for determining the location of intermediate CRC in a data stream sent from a channel subsystem to a control unit of an I/O processing system. A CRC locating module determines the location of at least one intermediate CRC in a transport data information unit. A CRC offset module determines a CRC offset of the at least one intermediate CRC. The CRC offset is a value identifying the difference between the location of the at least one intermediate CRC and the location of the first byte of user data in the transport data information unit. An offset block creation module creates a CRC offset block which includes a CRC offset value for each of the at least one intermediate CRC within the transport data information unit and a transmission module transmits the COB to a control unit in the I/O processing system. | 08-04-2011 |
20110320602 | DISCOVERY OF LOGICAL IMAGES AT STORAGE AREA NETWORK ENDPOINTS - A method for detecting virtual images in a network, the network including a host system and a plurality of physical devices in operable communication with one another, includes forming a query packet at the host system; providing the query packet to at least one of the plurality of physical devices; forming at the at least of the plurality of physical devices a first vector in response to the query packet, the first vector including a bit for each possible virtual image that may be formed in the at least one of the plurality of devices and indicating which of the virtual images are configured and addressable; and providing the first vector to the host system. | 12-29-2011 |
20120039604 | PRIORITY DATA TRANSMISSION USING FIBRE CHANNEL OVER ETHERNET - An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for handling data being communicated over lossless Ethernet that is sensitive to delays. Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) is one example of an environment where data may be subject to unacceptable delays. The method involves designating certain data as low latency data that is sensitive to delays in transmission. The low latency data is then transmitted in such a manner that the receiving devices are aware that they are receiving low latency data. If a delay in the transmission of low latency is detected, commands are issued that pause or slow standard data in order to free up bandwidth for the low latency data. The commands may be, for example, backward congestion notifications and priority flow control. Low latency data is exempted from backward congestion notifications and priority flow control. Priority | 02-16-2012 |
20120084514 | LOCKING A CACHE LINE FOR WRITE OPERATIONS ON A BUS - Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for locking a cache line for a burst write operations on a bus. A cache line is allocated in a cache for a target address. A lock is set for the cache line, wherein setting the lock prevents the data in the cache line from being cast out. Data is written to the cache line. All the data in the cache line is flushed to the target address over a bus in response to completing writing to the cache line. | 04-05-2012 |
20120089861 | INTER-PROCESSOR FAILURE DETECTION AND RECOVERY - An approach to detecting processor failure in a multi-processor environment is disclosed. The approach may include having each CPU in the system responsible for monitoring another CPU in the system. A CPU | 04-12-2012 |
20120096190 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING SUPPORTED SMALL FORM-FACTOR PLUGGABLE (SFP) DEVICES - Systems and methods for detecting supported small form-factor pluggable (SFP) devices in an adapter are provided. One system includes multiple ports, each port configured to be coupled to a SFP device, a tracking device configured to store data representing a list of supported SFP devices for the adapter, and a processor coupled to each of the plurality of ports and the tracking device. The processor is configured to scan each port at start-up, determine if any of the ports is coupled to a non-supported SFP device, and disable any ports that are coupled to a non-supported SFP device. One method includes scanning each port at start-up, determining if any of the ports is coupled to a non-supported SFP device, and disabling any ports that are coupled to a non-supported SFP device. Also provided are computer storage mediums including computer code for performing the above method. | 04-19-2012 |
20120106558 | BRIDGE FOR IMPLEMENTING A CONVERGED NETWORK PROTOCOL TO FACILITATE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL NETWORKS - Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for a bridge for implementing a converged network protocol to facilitate communication between different communication protocol networks. A first adaptor implements a first communication protocol and a second adaptor implementing a converged network protocol, wherein the converged network protocol facilitates communication of packets encoded with a second communication protocol with a third communication protocol network. Parameters are configured in a memory for communication between the first adaptor and the second adaptor in the converged network protocol to indicate to the second adaptor that the converged network protocol is supported, wherein the first adaptor does not support the converged network protocol. A packet is received at the first adaptor encoded in the second communication protocol directed to the third communication protocol network. The packet is forwarded to the second adaptor to forward to the third communication protocol network. A command is received at the second adaptor, directed to the first adaptor, to implement a function in the converged network protocol for communication between the first and second adaptors. Operations are performed to implement the function using the parameters in the memory to support transmission of packets between the first and the second adaptors. | 05-03-2012 |
20120141115 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CLEARING A FAULT CONDITION OVER A FIBRE CHANNEL PATH - A method for clearing a fault condition at a target device is disclosed herein. In selected embodiments, such a method includes detecting a fault condition at a target device and receiving N instructions before the fault condition is cleared, where the N instructions are unexecutable due to the fault condition. N fault condition indicators are transmitted in response to the N instructions. Clearing of the fault condition is detected when the fault condition no longer exists. Acknowledgments corresponding to the fault condition indicators are received, where each acknowledgment indicates that one of the fault condition indicators has been received. A fault clear indicator is transmitted only after both all N fault condition indicators have been received and clearing of the fault condition has been detected. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed herein. | 06-07-2012 |
20120159003 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AVOIDING HOST LEVEL BUSY AND RETRY LATENCIES - In one embodiment, a system includes logic adapted for receiving a command from a first system, logic adapted for determining which resources are required to process the command, logic adapted for checking for the required resources before receiving data associated with the command, logic adapted for receiving the data from the first system, logic adapted for checking for the required resources after receiving the data when the checking for the required resources before receiving data indicated that the required resources were not available before receiving the data, logic adapted for sending a status to the first system if the required resources are not available after receiving the data, and logic adapted for processing the command if the required resources are available either before receiving the data or after receiving the data. In more embodiments, a method and computer program product for processing a command are also presented. | 06-21-2012 |
20120254452 | BRIDGE FOR IMPLEMENTING A CONVERGED NETWORK PROTOCOL TO FACILITATE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL NETWORKS - A first adaptor implements a first communication protocol and a second adaptor implements a converged network protocol, which facilitates communication of packets encoded with a second communication protocol with a third communication protocol network. Parameters are configured in a memory for communication between the first adaptor and the second adaptor in the converged network protocol to indicate to the second adaptor that the converged network protocol is supported, wherein the first adaptor does not support the converged network protocol. A packet is received at the first adaptor encoded in the second communication protocol and forwarded to the second adaptor to forward to the third communication protocol network. A command is received at the second adaptor, directed to the first adaptor, to implement a function in the converged network protocol using the parameters in the memory to support transmission of packets between the first and the second adaptors. | 10-04-2012 |
20120303842 | SELECTING DIRECT MEMORY ACCESS ENGINES IN AN ADAPTOR FOR PROCESSING INPUT/OUTPUT (I/O) REQUESTS RECEIVED AT THE ADAPTOR - Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for selecting Direct Memory Access (DMA) engines in an adaptor for processing Input/Output requests received at the adaptor. A determination is made of an assignment of a plurality of processors to the DMA engines, wherein each processor is assigned to use one of the DMA engines. I/O request related work for a received I/O request directed to the storage is processed by determining the DMA engine assigned to the processor processing the I/O request related work and accessing the determined DMA engine to perform the I/O related work. | 11-29-2012 |
20120307822 | FIBRE CHANNEL FORWARDER FABRIC LOGIN SEQUENCE - For a fibre channel forwarder fabric login sequence in a fibre channel switch environment, where a Fibre Channel Forwarder (cFCF) is separated from a Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) data forwarder (FDF), at a Fibre Channel Login (FLOGI) to a target device from an initiator device, a node address acceptance notification is held from reaching the initiator device until each of the zoning distributions have been considered to have been completed. | 12-06-2012 |
20120308232 | FIBRE CHANNEL FORWARDER FABRIC LOGIN SEQUENCE - System and computer program product embodiments for fibre channel forwarder fabric login sequence in a fibre channel switch environment, where a Fibre Channel Forwarder (cFCF) is separated from a Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) data forwarder (FDF), are provided. In one embodiment, by way of example only, at a Fibre Channel Login (FLOGI) to a target device from an initiator device, a node address acceptance notification is held from reaching the initiator device until each of the zoning distributions have been considered to have been completed. | 12-06-2012 |
20130007300 | FACILITATING TRANSPORT MODE INPUT/OUTPUT OPERATIONS BETWEEN A CHANNEL SUBSYSTEM AND INPUT/OUTPUT DEVICES - A computer program product is configured for performing a method including: generating at least one command message by a channel subsystem of the host computer system, the at least one command message including one or more device command words (DCWs), wherein at least one DCW of the one or more DCWs includes a suppress-length indication (SLI) configured to instruct a control unit to continue to perform the I/O operation in response to the control unit detecting that the data count does not match an amount of data required; receiving an incorrect length (IL) value, the IL value being a first IL value in response to the SLI being a first SLI value and the data count not matching the amount of data required; and responsive to receiving the IL value from the control unit, storing an IL indicator in a subchannel-status word. | 01-03-2013 |
20130007303 | FACILITATING TRANSPORT MODE INPUT/OUTPUT OPERATIONS BETWEEN A CHANNEL SUBSYSTEM AND INPUT/OUTPUT DEVICES - A computer program product is provided for performing an input/output (I/O) processing operation at a host computer system. The computer program product is configured to perform: obtaining a transport command word (TCW) at a channel subsystem for an I/O operation, the TCW including an address of a transport command control block (TCCB) having a transport command area (TCA) configured to hold a first plurality of device command words (DCW) and control data associated with respective DCWs, the first plurality of DCWs including a transfer TCA extension (TTE) DCW that specifies a TCA extension, the TCA extension configured to hold one or more DCWs and control data associated with respective DCWs; gathering the TCCB from one or more locations specified in the TCCB address and transferring the TCCB to the control unit; gathering the TCA extension specified by the TTE DCW; and transferring the TCA extension to the control unit. | 01-03-2013 |
20130007304 | FACILITATING TRANSPORT MODE INPUT/OUTPUT OPERATIONS BETWEEN A CHANNEL SUBSYSTEM AND INPUT/OUTPUT DEVICES - A computer program product is configured for performing a method including: receiving at least one command message specifying an I/O operation at a control unit from a channel subsystem, the at least one command message including one or more device command words (DCWs) having a data count and a suppress-length indication (SLI), the SLI configured to instruct the control unit whether to continue to perform the I/O operation in response to the control unit detecting an incorrect length condition; processing at least one of the one or more DCWs; and returning a transport response message including an incorrect length (IL) value, the IL value being a first IL value in response to the SLI being a first SLI value and the data count not matching the amount of data required, the IL value being a second IL value in response to the SLI being a second SLI value and the data count not matching the amount of data required. | 01-03-2013 |
20130024586 | VERIFICATION OF HARDWARE CONFIGURATION - A method for verifying an input/output (I/O) hardware configuration is provided. Data from an input/output data set (IOCDS) is extracted for building a verification command. The IOCDS contains hardware requirements that define at least software devices associated with a logical control unit (LCU). The verification command is processed. The verification command includes a software device address range associated with a logical control unit (LCU) of the I/O hardware. The LCU utilizes a first logical path. The software device address range utilizing the first logical path is compared with an existing software device address range utilizing at least one additional logical path. The verification command is accepted if the software device address range and the existing software device address range match. | 01-24-2013 |
20130138833 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM TO DYNAMICALLY MANAGE LOGICAL PATH RESOURCES - System, apparatus, and methods for dynamically managing logical path resources are provided. The logical path resources are managed by adding, removing, and establishing logic paths based on specified priority schemes associated with the logical path resources. Information associated with the logical path resources is updated in a logical path resource table. | 05-30-2013 |
20130198751 | INCREASED DESTAGING EFFICIENCY - For increased destaging efficiency by smoothing destaging tasks to reduce long input/output (I/O) read operations in a computing environment, destaging tasks are calculated according to one of a standard time interval and a variable recomputed destaging task interval. The destaging of storage tracks between a desired number of destaging tasks and a current number of destaging tasks is smoothed according to the calculating. | 08-01-2013 |
20130198752 | INCREASED DESTAGING EFFICIENCY - For increased destaging efficiency by smoothing destaging tasks to reduce long input/output (I/O) read operations in a computing environment, destaging tasks are calculated according to one of a standard time interval and a variable recomputed destaging task interval. The destaging of storage tracks between a desired number of destaging tasks and a current number of destaging tasks is smoothed according to the calculating. | 08-01-2013 |
20130209086 | CLEARING A FAULT CONDITION OVER A FIBRE CHANNEL PATH - A method for clearing a fault condition at a target device is disclosed herein. In selected embodiments, such a method includes detecting a fault condition at a target device and receiving N instructions before the fault condition is cleared, where the N instructions are unexecutable due to the fault condition. N fault condition indicators are transmitted in response to the N instructions. Clearing of the fault condition is detected when the fault condition no longer exists. Acknowledgments corresponding to the fault condition indicators are received, where each acknowledgment indicates that one of the fault condition indicators has been received. A fault clear indicator is transmitted only after both all N fault condition indicators have been received and clearing of the fault condition has been detected. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed herein. | 08-15-2013 |
20130246661 | FACILITATING TRANSPORT MODE INPUT/OUTPUT OPERATIONS BETWEEN A CHANNEL SUBSYSTEM AND INPUT/OUTPUT DEVICES - A method of performing an input/output operation includes: generating by a channel subsystem at least one command message including one or more device command words (DCWs), at least one DCW including a data count and a suppress-length indication (SLI) configured to instruct a control unit whether to continue to perform the I/O operation in response to an incorrect length condition; forwarding the at least one command message to the control unit; receiving an incorrect length (IL) value from the control unit and storing an IL indicator in a subchannel-status word, the IL indicator representing the IL value, the IL value being a first IL value in response to a first SLI value and the data count not matching the amount of data required, the IL value being a second IL value in response to a second SLI value and the data count not matching the amount of data required. | 09-19-2013 |
20130272302 | UPDATING ZONE INFORMATION IN A DISTRIBUTED SWITCH OF DATA FORWARDERS - Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for updating zone information in a distributed switch of data forwarders. For each data forwarder, a sequence number is maintained for zone distribution messages sent to the data forwarder. A change to the ports in the network is detected comprising at least one of an allocation or deallocation of at least one port in the network. The sequence number for each data forwarder is incremented in response to detecting the change. For each data forwarder, a zone distribution message is generated indicating the at least one port allocated and/or deallocated, port information indicating each port in the network that may communicate with each other port, and the sequence number for the data forwarder. The generated zone distribution message is transmitted for each data forwarder to the data forwarder for which the zone distribution message was added. | 10-17-2013 |
20130272313 | UPDATING ZONE INFORMATION IN A DISTRIBUTED SWITCH OF DATA FORWARDERS - Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for updating zone information in a distributed switch of data forwarders. For each data forwarder, a sequence number is maintained for zone distribution messages sent to the data forwarder. A change to the ports in the network is detected comprising at least one of an allocation or deallocation of at least one port in the network. The sequence number for each data forwarder is incremented in response to detecting the change. For each data forwarder, a zone distribution message is generated indicating the at least one port allocated and/or deallocated, port information indicating each port in the network that may communicate with each other port, and the sequence number for the data forwarder. The generated zone distribution message is transmitted for each data forwarder to the data forwarder for which the zone distribution message was added. | 10-17-2013 |
20140003440 | GATEWAY DEVICE TO CONNECT NATIVE FIBRE CHANNEL PORTS TO PURE FIBRE CHANNEL OVER ETHERNET STORAGE AREA NETWORKS | 01-02-2014 |
20140047110 | DEVICE LEVEL ENABLEMENT OF A COMMUNICATIONS PROTOCOL - An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for device level enablement of a communications protocol. An adapter compatibility module determines an adapter compatibility status for a plurality of host adapters. A positive adapter compatibility status indicates that each host adapter in the plurality of host adapters is compatible with a communications protocol. A processor compatibility module determines a processor compatibility status for one or more processors. The one or more processors coordinate data transfers to and from the plurality of host adapters. A positive processor compatibility status indicates that each of the one or more processors is compatible with the communications protocol. A compatibility summary module determines a compatibility summary for the plurality of host adapters and the one or more processors. The compatibility summary indicates a positive compatibility relative to the communications protocol in response to a positive processor compatibility status and a positive adapter compatibility status. | 02-13-2014 |
20140055776 | READ OPTICAL POWER LINK SERVICE FOR LINK HEALTH DIAGNOSTICS - A method is provided for monitoring a state of an optical link in a Fibre Channel infrastructure and includes sending an Extended Link Service (ELS) request to read an optical power of the optical link, and diagnosing a degradation of the optical link, based on a response to the ELS request. | 02-27-2014 |
20140092912 | FIBRE CHANNEL OVER ETHERNET SWITCH IMPLICIT LOGOUT - A process for an implicit logout of links to a fibre channel over Ethernet switch includes receiving, at a second switch, a first message from a first switch. The first message indicates an implicit link logout event on one of two or more links between the first switch and a node. Also, the process includes transmitting a second message from the second switch. The second message indicates zoning information for all of the two or more links between the first switch and the node. | 04-03-2014 |
20140281041 | FACILITATING TRANSPORT MODE DATA TRANSFER BETWEEN A CHANNEL SUBSYSTEM AND INPUT/OUTPUT DEVICES - A computer program product is provided for performing an input/output (I/O) operation initiated by an I/O operation instruction at a host computer system configured for communication with a control unit. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing: receiving, by the control unit, a transport mode command message from a channel subsystem of the host computer system, the command message include a command for data to be transferred between the host computer system and an I/O device controlled by the control unit; and sending a command retry message to the channel subsystem, the command retry message including a request that the command message be re-sent to the control unit and a reason code indicating a reason for the request. | 09-18-2014 |
20140307741 | PROCESSING REQUESTS FOR SERVICES IN A SERVICE REQUEST AT A RECEIVING CONTROLLER AND PROCESSING CONTROLLER IN A SWITCH - Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for processing requests for multiple services in a service request. A receiving controller, comprising one of a controlling forwarder or a data forwarder, receives a service request for a service from an originating device node. The receiving controller forwards an internal service request to a processing controller providing response information for the service request. The processing controller comprises a data forwarder when the receiving controller comprises the controlling forwarder or comprises the controlling forwarder when the receiving controller comprises one of the at least one data forwarder. The processing controller processes the internal service request to generate response information requested by the service request and forwards a reply including the response information to the receiving controller, which forwards the response information in a reply to the service request to the originating device node. | 10-16-2014 |
20140359168 | TRANSPORT MODE DATA TRANSFER BETWEEN A CHANNEL SUBSYSTEM AND INPUT/ OUTPUT DEVICES - A computer program product is provided for performing an input/output (I/O) operation at a host computer system configured for communication with a control unit. The computer program product is configured to perform: sending a transport mode command message from a channel subsystem to the control unit, the command message including a command for data to be transferred to an I/O device controlled by the control unit; and sending a data transfer message to the control unit, the data transfer message having an amount of the data to be transferred, the amount of the data being less than or equal to a maximum amount of data, the maximum amount of data corresponding to a number of buffers associated with the control unit and a size of each of the number of buffers, the number and the size indicated by a value maintained in the host computer system. | 12-04-2014 |
20150023364 | MECHANISM FOR TERMINATING RELAY OPERATIONS IN A DISTRIBUTED SWITCH WITH CASCADED CONFIGURATION - Provided are a method, a system, and a computer program product in which a plurality of switches are maintained in a cascaded configuration. A switch relays a switch fabric internal link services (SW-ILS) to generate a pair of exchanges comprising a first exchange and a second exchange at the switch. In response to a termination of the first exchange of the pair of exchanges, the second exchange of the pair of exchanges is terminated. | 01-22-2015 |
20150058457 | BRIDGE FOR IMPLEMENTING A CONVERGED NETWORK PROTOCOL TO FACILITATE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL NETWORKS - Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for implementing a converged network protocol to facilitate communication between different communication protocol networks. There are configuration parameters in a memory for communication between the first adaptor implementing a first communication protocol and the second adaptor in a converged network protocol to indicate to the second adaptor that the converged network protocol is supported. A packet is received at the first adaptor encoded in a second communication protocol directed to a third communication protocol network, forwarded to the second adaptor, and then forwarded to the third communication protocol network. A command is received at the second adaptor, directed to the first adaptor, to implement a first function in the converged network protocol for communication between the first and second adaptors. A second function in the first communication protocol to implement the first function is transmitted to the first adaptor. | 02-26-2015 |