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Proceedings ArticleDOI

The role of FCoE in I/O consolidation

29 Jul 2008-pp 87
TL;DR: This paper elaborates how FCoE leverages the ubiquity and economics of Ethernet networks while preserving the infrastructure, strengths, and tools of the existing Fibre Channel Storage Area Network (SAN) framework.
Abstract: Consolidation of the multiple traffic types present in current data centers over a single unified network is a big trend in the information technology industry. Extensions to 10G Ethernet are making it the most promising technology for achieving I/O consolidation. The emerging Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) protocol plays a critical role in this convergence process. This paper elaborates how FCoE leverages the ubiquity and economics of Ethernet networks while preserving the infrastructure, strengths, and tools of the existing Fibre Channel Storage Area Network (SAN) framework.
Citations
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Patent
09 Feb 2009
TL;DR: In this paper, a transport command word (TCW) is used to specify a location of the output data and a location for storing the input data for an input/output (I/O) operation at a host computer.
Abstract: An article of manufacture, apparatus, and a method for facilitating input/output (I/O) processing for an I/O operation at a host computer system configured for communication with a control unit. The method includes the host computer system obtaining a transport command word (TCW) for an I/O operation having both input and output data. The TCW specifies a location of the output data and a location for storing the input data. The host computer system forwards the I/O operation to the control unit for execution. The host computer system gathers the output data responsive to the location of the output data specified by the TCW, and then forwards the output data to the control unit for use in the execution of the I/O operation. The host computer system receives the input data from the control unit and stores the input data at the location specified by the TCW.

47 citations

Patent
09 Feb 2009
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a system for facilitating input/output (I/O) processing for an I/O operation at a host computer system configured for communication with a control unit.
Abstract: An computer program product, apparatus, and method for facilitating input/output (I/O) processing for an I/O operation 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 a method. The method includes the host computer system obtaining a transport command word (TCW) for an I/O operation. The TCW specifies a location of one or more I/O commands and a flag. The flag is set to indicate that the location is an indirect address. The host computer system extracts the location of the one or more I/O commands and the flag from the TCW. The host computer system gathers the one or more I/O commands responsive to the location specified by the TCW and the flag, and then forwards the one or more I/O commands to the control unit for execution.

44 citations

Patent
14 Feb 2008
TL;DR: In this paper, 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, including a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method.
Abstract: 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.

40 citations

Patent
14 Feb 2008
TL;DR: In this article, 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, which includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit.
Abstract: 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.

37 citations

References
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01 Sep 1981

3,411 citations

01 Apr 2004
TL;DR: The iSCSI protocol aims to be fully compliant with the standardized SCSI architecture model and works on top of TCP.
Abstract: This document describes a transport protocol for Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) that works on top of TCP. The iSCSI protocol aims to be fully compliant with the standardized SCSI architecture model.

1,159 citations

Patent
17 Oct 2005
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present methods and devices for implementing a Low Latency Ethernet (LLE) solution, referred to herein as a Data Center Ethernet (DCE) solution which simplifies the connectivity of data centers and provides a high bandwidth, low latency network for carrying Ethernet and storage traffic.
Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for implementing a Low Latency Ethernet (“LLE”) solution, also referred to herein as a Data Center Ethernet (“DCE”) solution, which simplifies the connectivity of data centers and provides a high bandwidth, low latency network for carrying Ethernet and storage traffic. Some aspects of the invention involve transforming FC frames into a format suitable for transport on an Ethernet. Some preferred implementations of the invention implement multiple virtual lanes (“VLs”) in a single physical connection of a data center or similar network. Some VLs are “drop” VLs, with Ethernet-like behavior, and others are “no-drop” lanes with FC-like behavior. Some preferred implementations of the invention provide guaranteed bandwidth based on credits and VL. Active buffer management allows for both high reliability and low latency while using small frame buffers. Preferably, the rules for active buffer management are different for drop and no drop VLs.

260 citations

Proceedings ArticleDOI
29 Jul 2008
TL;DR: A summary of the Fibre Channel architecture is presented, the extensions needed for Ethernet to be lossless are elaborated, and the architectural models of FCoE are discussed.
Abstract: Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) is a direct mapping of Fibre Channel over lossless Ethernet being defined by the FC-BB-5 working group of the INCITS T11 Technical Committee. This paper presents a summary of the Fibre Channel architecture, elaborates the extensions needed for Ethernet to be lossless, and discusses the architectural models of FCoE, the way in which Fibre Channel frames are mapped into Ethernet frames, the addressing structures used by FCoE, and the control protocol that allows FCoE to be seamlessly integrated in the existing Fibre Channel environments.

19 citations


"The role of FCoE in I/O consolidati..." refers background in this paper

  • ...INTRODUCTION I/O consolidation is the capability to consolidate the multiple traffic types that today are carried over different data center network infrastructures into a single network technology that maintains the advantages of each existing traffic type while minimizing the interactions…...

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