Method and system to connect multiple SCSI initiators to a fibre channel fabric topology using a single N-port

1. A method for connecting multiple initiators to a storage area network (SAN) via a Fibre channel fabric using a single N_port fibre channel switch, the multiple initiators being associated with a common domain identification (DID), each initiator having a unique source identification (SID), the method comprising:

initiating a communication exchange between at least one of the initiators and the SAN, the exchange including transmission of a command frame;

monitoring the initiated exchange communication exchange; and

replacing the unique SID of one of the initiators with an SID of the fibre channel switch.

2. A method for connecting multiple initiators to a storage area network (SAN) via a Fibre channel fabric comprising facilitating communication between the initiators and the SAN in accordance with N_port standards wherein the multiple initiators to the SAN as a single host bus adaptor.

3. A device, comprising:

a processor;

a fibre channel switch for connecting two or more fibre channel initiators to a target via a fibre channel fabric; and

an enterprise messaging exchange (eXM) module including an input/output (IO) table, the eXM module being configured for translating a frame address of an initiator originated fibre channel protocol command frame (FCP_CMD) within a fibre channel exchange between one of the initiators and the target;

wherein the eXM module includes an IO table and is configured to (i) process the FCP CMD frame (ii) create a phantom port to N_port mapping for the fibre channel exchange and (iii) create a new entry within the IO table corresponding to the fibre channel exchange.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein each of the initiators includes a unique source identification (SID);

wherein the N-port aggregator blade includes an aggregator blade SID; and

wherein the eXM module is further configured to (iv) replace the SID of the one initiator with the aggregator blade SID.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the two or more fibre channel initiators are associated with a common domain identification (DID).

6. The device of claim 3 , wherein the fibre channel switch includes (i) a phantom port configured for connection to the two or more fibre channel initiators and (ii) an N_port configured for connection to the fibre channel fabric.

7. The device of claim 3 , wherein the fibre channel switch further comprises an application Pe port and an application Ne port, the Pe and Ne ports being configurable to facilitate communication between the fibre channel switch and the eXM module.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the device is an N_port aggregator blade.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein a corresponding frame originating at the target is forwarded to the one initiator via the eXM module, the eXM module (i) associating the corresponding frame with the fibre channel exchange, (ii) replacing a domain identification (DID) of the corresponding frame with a common DID associated with the two or more fibre channel initiators.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the eXM is a field programmable gate array.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein frames subsequent to the FCP_CMD frame are translated in accordance with their entry in the IO table.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the eXM module is configured to track a beginning of the exchange, and ending of the exchange, a sequence begin, sequence end, and FCP_CMD command type.