Method and system for programmable data dependant network routing

1. A method for routing fibre channel frames using a fibre channel switch element, comprising:

(a) receiving a fibre channel frame at a port of the fibre channel switch element;

(b) indexing a look up table by using an output value generated by a hashing module for the fibre channel switch element; a domain value for routing the fibre channel frame to another fibre channel switch, an area value for routing the fibre channel frame to a port of the fibre channel switch that received the fibre channel frame, a virtual storage area network identifier for routing the fibre channel frame within a virtual storage area network, and an arbitrated loop physical address (AL_PA) value included in a header of the fibre channel frame;

(c) selecting a column value from the look up table based on a column select signal generated by a hardware logic; wherein the column select signal is based on the output value generated by the hashing module; and wherein the output value is a pseudo random number value generated by the hashing module by applying a hash function on a field of a fibre channel frame header of the fibre channel frame; and the pseudo random number value is used for selecting the column value used for routing the frame; and

(d) based on the selected column value, routing the frame if a route is valid.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hashing module uses a same field value from the fibre channel frame header for a same fibre channel exchange to generate the pseudo random number value.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hash function is applied on an originator exchange identification field (OX_ID of the fibre channel frame to route the fibre channel frame.

4. A fibre channel switch element configured to select a route from amongst a plurality of routes, for routing fibre channel frames, the fibre channel switch element comprising:

at least one port for receiving and transmitting a fibre channel frame;

a look up table with a plurality of columns that are indexed by an output from a hashing module, a domain value for routing the fibre channel frame to another fibre channel switch element, an area value for routing the fibre channel frame to a port of the fibre channel switch that received the fibre channel frame, a virtual storage area network identifier for routing the fibre channel frame within a virtual storage area network and an arbitrated loop physical address (AL — PA) value; and

a hardware logic that receives a plurality of inputs and based on one of the inputs, a column select signal is generated, wherein the column select signal is used to select a value from one of toe plurality of columns to route the fibre channel frame; and wherein the column select signal is based on the output value generated by the hashing module; and wherein the output value is a pseudo random number value generated by the hashing module by applying a hash function on a field of a fibre channel frame header of the fibre channel frame for selecting the column value.

5. The fibre channel switch element of claim 4 , wherein the hashing module uses a same field value from the fibre channel frame header for a same fibre channel exchange to generate the pseudo random number value.

6. The fibre channel switch element of claim 4 , wherein the hash function is applied on an originator exchange identification field (OX_ID) of the fibre channel frame to route the fibre channel frame.

7. The fibre channel switch element of claim 4 , wherein the hash function, to route the fibre channel frame, is used on at least one or more of a destination identifier field (D_ID), a source identifier field (S_ID) and a responder exchange identifier field (RX_ID), included in the fibre channel frame header for the fibre channel frame.

8. The fibre channel switch element of claim 4 , wherein the hardware logic is a multiplexer and be plurality of inputs are a destination identifier field (D_ID), a source identifier field (S_ID), a virtual storage area network identifier, an originator exchange identification field (OX_D), the pseudo random number value generated by the hashing module, and a decode fibre channel header type field.

9. The fibre channel switch element of claim 8 , wherein the decode fibre channel header type field is decoded and then a derived value is used to select a column from the look table.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bash function to route the fibre channel frame is used on at least one or more of a destination identifier field (D_ID), a source identifier field (S_ID) and a responder exchange identifier field (RX_ID), included in the fibre channel frame header for the fibre channel frame.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the column select signal is generated after a plurality of fields are input to the hardware logic and one of the input fields is selected to generate the column select signal.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the hardware logic is a multiplexer and the plurality of inputs are a destination identifier field (D_ID), a source identifier field (S_ID), a virtual storage area network identifier, an originator exchange identification field (OX_ID), the pseudo random number generated by the hashing module, and a decode fibre channel header type field.

13. A network system, comprising:

host computing system for sending and receiving information;

a least one storage system for storing information; and

a least one fibre channel switch element configured to select a route from amongst a plurality of routes, for routing fibre channel frames in the network, where the fibre channel switch element includes:

(a) at least one port for receiving and transmitting a fibre channel frame;

(b) a look up table with a plurality of columns that are indexed by an output from a hashing module, a domain value for routing the fibre channel frame to another fibre channel switch element, an area value for routing the fibre channel frame to a port of the fibre channel switch that received the fibre channel frame, a virtual storage area network identifier for routing the fibre channel frame within a virtual storage area network and an arbitrated loop physical address (AL_PA) value; and

c) a hardware logic that receives a plurality of inputs and based on one of the inputs, a column select signal is generated, wherein the column select signal is used to select a value from one of the plurality of columns to route the fibre channel frame; and wherein the column select signal is based on the output value generated by the hashing module; and wherein the output value is a pseudo random number value generated by the hashing module by applying a hash function on a field of a fibre channel frame header of the fibre channel frame for selecting the column value.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the hashing module uses a same field value from the fibre channel frame header for a same fibre channel exchange to generate the pseudo random number value.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the hash function, to route the fibre channel frame, is used on at least one or more of originator exchange identification field (OX_ID), a destination identifier field (D_ID), a source identifier field (S_ID and a responder exchange identifier field (RX_ID), included in a fibre channel frame header for the fibre channel frame.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the hardware logic is a multiplexer and the plurality of inputs are a destination identifier field (D_ID) a source identifier field (S_ID), a virtual storage area network identifier, an originator exchange identification field (OX_ID), the pseudo random number value generated by the hashing module, and a decode fibre channel header type field.