Lun based hard zoning in fibre channel switches

Abstract

A method and system for implementing LUN based hard zoning in a fibre channel network is provided. A LUN field in a Fibre Channel SCSI command frame is compared with a list of LUNS that are allowed for a particular frame source; and the frame is forwarded if the LUN is allowed for the frame source. The comparison is performed by a port receiving the frame by using an address look up table (“ALUT”). Hard zoning is based on various frame fields and/or ALUT control codes. Also provided is a method for processing a reply to a SCSI REPORT LUN command from an initiator. The method includes, intercepting a reply to a REPORT LUN command; editing the reply to remove unauthorized LUNs; and sending the edited reply to the initiator.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
   
   
       31 . A method for a switch element having a port for receiving and transmitting network information, comprising:
 (a) configuring the port for intercepting a reply to a command received from an initiator requesting information regarding a logical unit number (LUN) at a target using LUN zoning;   wherein the port intercepts the reply to the command and routes the reply to a processor for the switch element;   (b) editing the reply to the command; wherein the processor edits the reply to delete information regarding any LUN that the initiator is not authorized to access; and   (c) sending the edited reply to the initiator without the deleted unauthorized LUN information in step (b).   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the command is a REPORT LUN command used for discovering a LUN on a small computer systems interface (SCSI) storage device. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein an alias cache for the port is configured to identify the reply to the command which is routed to the processor if the target uses LUN zoning. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein after the edited reply is sent to the initiator, the processor clears the alias cache entries associated with the reply. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the port identifies the reply to the command by matching one or more fields in the reply with one or more fields of the command. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the port is configured to route the command to the processor. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein based on the fields in the command, the processor determines if the target is using LUN zoning and configures the port to automatically route the reply to the command to the processor for editing. 
   
   
       38 . A method for a switch element having a port for receiving and transmitting information, comprising:
 (a) configuring the port for intercepting a reply to a command received from an initiator requesting information regarding a logical unit number (LUN) at a target using LUN zoning;   wherein the port identifies the reply to the command by matching one or more fields in the reply with one or more fields of the command and routes the reply to a processor for the switch element; and   wherein the port also routes the command to the processor and the processor determines if the target is using LUN zoning and configures the port to automatically route the reply to the command to the processor;   (b) editing the reply to the command; wherein the processor edits the reply to delete information regarding any LUN that the initiator is not authorized to access; and   (c) sending the edited reply to the initiator without the deleted unauthorized LUN information in step (b).   
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the command is a REPORT LUN command used for discovering a LUN on a small computer systems interface (SCSI) storage device. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein an alias cache for the port is configured to identity the reply to the command, which is routed to the processor if the target uses LUN zoning. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein after the edited reply is sent to the initiator, the processor clears the alias cache entries associated with the reply. 
   
   
       42 . A switch element tor receiving and transmitting information, comprising:
 (a) a port for receiving and transmitting the information; wherein the port is configured to intercept a reply to a command received from an initiator requesting information regarding a logical unit number (LUN) at a target using LUN zoning;   wherein after the port intercepts the reply to the command, the port routes the reply to a processor for the switch element; and   wherein the processor edits the reply to delete information regarding any LUN that the initiator is not authorized to access; and the port sends the edited reply to the initiator without the deleted unauthorized LUN information.   
   
   
       43 . The switch element of  claim 42 , wherein the command is a REPORT LUN command used for discovering a LUN on a small computer systems interface (SCSI) storage device. 
   
   
       44 . The switch element of  claim 42 , wherein the port includes an alias cache that is configured to identify the reply to the command. 
   
   
       45 . The switch element of  claim 44 , wherein after the edited reply is sent to the initiator, the processor clears the alias cache entries associated with the reply. 
   
   
       46 . The switch element of  claim 42 , wherein the port identifies the reply to the command by matching one or more fields in the reply with one or more fields of the command. 
   
   
       47 . The switch element of  claim 42 , wherein the port routes the command to the processor. 
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein based on the fields in the command, the processor determines if the target is using LUN zoning and configures the port to automatically route the reply to the command to the processor for editing.