Mapping logical ports of a network switch to physical ports

1. A method of managing a network switch, comprising:

partitioning the network switch into a plurality of logical switches;

defining a logical port of a first logical switch of the plurality of logical switches,

wherein the logical port is not associated with a physical port of the network switch assigned to the first logical switch, and

wherein the logical port is associated with a physical port of the network switch, the physical port assigned to another logical switch of the plurality of logical switches; and

associating the logical port with a logical inter-switch link between the first logical switch and a second logical port of a second network switch, the logical port of the second network switch not associated with a physical port of the second network switch.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein defining a logical port of a first logical switch comprises:

allocating a logical interface of the first logical switch;

associating a physical port of a base fabric of the network switch with the logical interface;

allocating a user port number of the logical switch for the logical port of the first logical switch;

registering the logical interface;

associating the logical interface with the user port number; and

generating a request to create the logical port of the first logical switch.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

assigning a physical port of the network switch to the first logical switch;

defining a user port of the first logical switch corresponding to the physical port of the network switch assigned to the first logical switch; and

defining the logical inter-switch link between the first logical switch and another switch through the user port.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the another switch is a logical switch of another network switch.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

routing traffic for the logical inter-switch link across a shared inter-switch link connected to the physical port.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

creating a logical topology of logical inter-switch links in a virtual fabric.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein creating a logical topology comprises:

obtaining information about a physical topology of network switches and physical inter-switch links;

exchanging configuration information between network switches; and

creating the logical inter-switch link based on the physical topology and the exchanged configuration information.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the logical topology is a full mesh of logical inter-switch links between logical switches in a virtual fabric.

9. A network switch, comprising:

a switch, partitionable into a plurality of logical switches, wherein each of the plurality of logical switches is a complete and self-contained network switch;

a processor;

a storage medium, connected to the processor;

a software, stored in the storage medium;

wherein the software, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform actions comprising:

adding a logical port to a first logical switch of the plurality of logical switches;

deleting the logical port from the first logical switch; and

creating a logical inter-switch link associated with the logical port between the first logical switch and a second logical port of a second network switch,

wherein the logical port is not associated with a physical port of the network switch assigned to the first logical switch, and

wherein the logical port is associated with a physical port of the network switch, the physical port assigned to another logical switch of the plurality of logical switches.

10. The network switch of claim 9 , wherein the software, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform actions further comprising:

sending a logical port creation request;

specifying a physical port in a base fabric of the network switch to use to reach a second switch;

marking the logical port online.

11. The network switch of claim 9 , wherein the software, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform actions further comprising:

receiving a logical port creation request from a logical fabric manager;

allocating a logical interface object in a logical port hierarchy;

associating a physical port of a base fabric of the network switch with the logical interface object;

registering the logical interface object with an interface manager;

allocating a user port number for the logical port;

allocating a port index slot for the logical port; and

requesting a switch driver to create the logical port, associated with the logical interface object.

12. The network switch of claim 9 , wherein the software, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform actions further comprising:

creating a logical topology of logical inter-switch links in a virtual fabric.

13. The network switch of claim 12 , wherein creating a logical topology comprises:

obtaining information about a physical topology of network switches and physical inter-switch links;

exchanging configuration information between network switches; and

creating the logical inter-switch link based on the physical topology and the exchanged configuration information.

14. The network switch of claim 12 , wherein the logical topology comprises a full mesh of logical inter-switch links between logical switches in a virtual fabric.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium on which is stored software for managing logical ports of a logical switch defined in a network switch, the software for instructing a processor to perform actions comprising:

defining a logical port of the logical switch,

wherein the logical port is not associated with a physical port assigned to the logical switch, and

wherein the logical port is associated with a physical port assigned to a base fabric of the network switch; and

associating the logical port with a logical inter-switch link between the logical switch and a logical port of a second network switch, the logical port of the second network switch not associated with a physical port of the second network switch.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the action of defining a logical port comprises:

allocating a logical interface of the logical switch;

associating a physical port of a base fabric of the network switch with the logical interface;

allocating a user port number of the logical switch for the logical port of the logical switch;

registering the logical interface;

associating the logical interface with the user port number; and

generating a request to create the logical port of the logical switch.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the action of associating the logical port with a logical inter-switch link comprises:

executing a logical inter-switch link protocol with a peer switch;

marking the logical port as online; and

sending a notification that the logical port is online.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the actions further comprise:

assigning a physical port of the network switch to the logical switch;

defining a user port of the logical switch corresponding to the physical port of the network switch assigned to the logical switch; and

defining a logical inter-switch link between the logical switch and a second switch through the user port.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the second switch is a logical switch of another network switch.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the actions further comprise:

deleting the assignment of the physical port to the logical port; and

deleting the logical port from the logical switch.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the software, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform actions further comprising:

creating a logical topology of logical inter-switch links in a virtual fabric.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21 , wherein creating a logical topology comprises:

obtaining information about a physical topology of network switches and physical inter-switch links;

exchanging configuration information between network switches; and

creating the logical inter-switch link based on the physical topology and the exchanged configuration information.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 21 , wherein the logical topology is a full mesh of logical inter-switch links between logical switches in a virtual fabric.