Storage switch traffic bandwidth control

1. A method for use in a system for storing and accessing data, the system including at least one initiator, at least two targets, and at least one switch having a port, the method comprising:

determining whether congestion occurs at the physical port; and

controlling bandwidth usage by each of at least two targets based on minimum and maximum bandwidth settings for each of the targets, wherein the step of controlling comprises monitoring traffic passing from each of the two targets to the port, and recording a data amount when either of the two targets exceeds a maximum bandwidth.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of monitoring comprises incrementing the data amount by an amount of data read during an excess bandwidth period.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of monitoring comprises decrementing the data amount when a command received for a target with a recorded excess data amount is rejected.

4. A method for use in a system for storing and accessing data, the system including at least one initiator, at least two targets, and at least one switch having a port, the method comprising:

determining whether congestion occurs at the physical port; and

controlling bandwidth usage by each of at least two targets based on minimum and maximum bandwidth settings for each of the targets, wherein said step of controlling comprises assigning a weight to each target when traffic from the target to the port exceeds an allowable maximum bandwidth for the target and rejecting commands to one of said two targets.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of assigning a weight includes recording a bandwidth overage amount in a record associated with the target.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of recording a bandwidth overage includes recording a number of bytes.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of rejecting additional commands includes the step of determining a requested number of bytes from the command, and reducing the recorded bandwidth overage by the requested number of bytes.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of assigning a weight includes marking traffic from the target to the port based on a two rate marker.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of assigning a weight include marking the traffic using a two rate, three color marking system.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of weighting includes recording all red marked traffic as a bandwidth overage.

11. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of weighting includes recording all yellow traffic as a bandwidth overage if a comparison of a normalized value of the maximum bandwidth exceeds a random number.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the overage recorded is a frame size of the yellow traffic frame.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein commands directed to one of said at least two targets with a greater bandwidth overage are rejected until its overage is less than an overage of the other of said at least two targets.

14. A storage switch having at least one physical port providing access to at least two targets, comprising:

load balancing circuitry affiliated with the port including a memory storing a record of each target, the record including a minimum and maximum bandwidth allocation for the target; and

processing circuitry affiliated with the port including a bandwidth monitor for each of said at least two targets, the processing circuitry maintaining a weighted record of bandwidth used by each target and rejecting additional commands to at least one target based on the record if the physical port is congested.

15. The switch of claim 14 wherein each target includes at least one virtual target communicating with at least one respective physical logical unit.

16. The switch of claim 14 wherein the processing circuitry includes a command rejecter for commands from the initiator to the virtual target responsive to the weighted record.

17. A method for monitoring bandwidth in a storage switch, the switching including at least one physical port coupling at least one target and at least one initiator via the physical port, comprising:

determining whether congestion occurs on the physical port;

assigning a weight to bandwidth usage between the initiator and the target based on minimum and maximum bandwidth settings for each target, wherein said assigning a weight includes determining a smallest overage amount of all targets and adding the smallest overage amount as an excess amount.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the bandwidth usage is the result of a read command.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the bandwidth usage is the result of a write command.

20. A method for monitoring bandwidth in a storage switch, the switching including at least one physical port coupling at least one target and at least one initiator via the physical port, comprising:

determining whether congestion occurs on the physical port;

assigning a weight to bandwidth usage between the initiator and the target based on minimum and maximum bandwidth settings for each target, wherein the step of assigning a weight includes the steps of monitoring bandwidth from the target using a two rate, three color marker.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of assigning a weight includes recording all red marked traffic as a bandwidth overage.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of assigning a weight includes recording all yellow traffic as a bandwidth overage if a comparison of a normalized value of the maximum bandwidth exceeds a random number.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the overage recorded is a frame size.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein commands directed to one of said at least two targets with a greater bandwidth overage are rejected until its overage is less than an overage of the other of said at least two targets.