Forwarding data frames with a distributed fiber channel forwarder

1. A method of forwarding a data frame, the method comprising:

receiving programming at a bridge element of a plurality of bridge elements from a controlling bridge configured to program the plurality of bridge elements, wherein the programming includes:

an address of a fiber channel forwarder to associate with the bridge element, the fiber channel forwarder selected by the controlling bridge from a plurality of fiber channel forwarders coupled to the bridge element, and

a global fiber channel forwarder address to identify data frames to forward to the fiber channel forwarder, wherein the global fiber channel forwarder address is common to the plurality of fiber channel forwarders;

associating the fiber channel forwarder with the bridge element based on the programming received from the controlling bridge, wherein the bridge element is a hardware component and remote from the fiber channel forwarder; and

forwarding a data frame received at the bridge element to the fiber channel forwarder associated with the bridge element in response to recognizing the global fiber channel forwarder address included within the data frame.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein associating the fiber channel forwarder with the bridge element further comprises associating the address of the fiber channel forwarder with the bridge element.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the global fiber channel forwarder address at the bridge element.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving the data frame at the bridge element.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fiber channel forwarders are interconnected.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fiber channel forwarder is associated with at least one of a virtual large area network and a logical network.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of fiber channel forwarders each configured to encapsulate and de-encapsulate data frame data;

a bridge element of a plurality of bridge elements of a distributed virtual bridge in communication with the plurality of fiber channel forwarders; and

a controlling bridge of a plurality of controlling bridges configured to program the plurality of bridge elements,

wherein the bridge element is configured to:

receive programming from the controlling, wherein the programming includes:

an address of a fiber channel forwarder to associate with the bridge element, the fiber channel forwarder selected by the controlling bridge from the plurality of fiber channel forwarders, and

a global fiber channel forwarder address to identify data frames to forward to the fiber channel forwarder;

associate the fiber channel forwarder with the bridge element based on the programming received from the controlling bridge, wherein the bridge element is a hardware component and remote from the fiber channel forwarder; and

forward a data frame received at the bridge element to the fiber channel forwarder associated with the bridge element in response to recognizing the global fiber channel forwarder address included within the data frame.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein each rack of a plurality of racks includes a plurality of chassis, wherein each chassis of the plurality of chassis includes a plurality of server computers, wherein the distributed virtual bridge is coupled to the plurality of server computers, wherein the distributed virtual bridge is coupled to a plurality of adapters, wherein the plurality of adapters is located within or coupled to the plurality of server computers, and wherein the distributed virtual bridge comprises:

the plurality of bridge elements coupled to the plurality of server computers, wherein each bridge element of the plurality of bridge elements is configured to forward data frames between the plurality of server computers of different racks of the plurality of racks, different chassis of the plurality of chassis, or any combination thereof, and wherein each of the plurality of bridge elements includes a forwarding cache to store address data used to forward the data frames received by the bridge element, and

the plurality of controlling bridges coupled to one another and coupled to the plurality of bridge elements, wherein each controlling bridge of the plurality of controlling bridges includes a global forwarding table to store address data received from the plurality of bridge elements, to provide address data to the plurality of bridge elements, or any combination thereof.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the fiber channel forwarder is selected by the controlling bridge from among the plurality of fiber channel forwarders based upon predetermined criteria.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the fiber channel forwarder is selected by the controlling bridge based upon a proximity to the bridge element.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the address of the fiber channel forwarder is accessible to the bridge element.

12. A program product, comprising: program code configured to be executed to on a non-transitory computer readable medium bearing the program code: receive programming at a bridge element of a plurality of bridge elements of a distributed virtual bridge from a controlling bridge of a plurality of controlling bridges configured to program the plurality of bridge elements, wherein the programming includes: an address of a fiber channel forwarder to associate with the bridge element, the fiber channel forwarder selected by the controlling bridge from a plurality of fiber channel forwarders coupled to the bridge element, and a global fiber channel forwarder address to identify data frames to forward to the fiber channel forwarder, wherein the global fiber channel forwarder address is common to the plurality of fiber channel forwarders; associate the fiber channel forwarder with the bridge element based on the programming received from the controlling bridge, wherein the bridge element is a hardware component and remote from the fiber channel forwarder; forward a data frame received at the bridge element to the fiber channel forwarder associated with the bridge element in response to recognizing the global fiber channel forwarder address included within the data frame.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data frame is a Fiber Channel over Ethernet data frame.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fiber channel forwarder is selected by the controlling bridge based on at least one of predetermined criteria, a proximity to the bridge element, or nearest to the bridge element.

15. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein associating the fiber channel forwarder with the bridge element further comprises associating the address of the fiber channel forwarder with the bridge element.

16. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising storing the global fiber channel forwarder address at the bridge element.

17. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising receiving the data frame at the bridge element.

18. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of fiber channel forwarders are interconnected.

19. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the fiber channel forwarder is associated with at least one of a virtual large area network and a logical network.

20. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the fiber channel forwarder is selected by the controlling bridge because the fiber channel forwarder is nearest to the bridge element.