IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,639,498
Granted Patent B2
US 9,639,498 · App. 14/141,700 · Granted May 2, 2017

Protocol conversion system

Inventors: Christopher Stephen Petrick (Cedar Park, TX); Rabah S. Hamdi (Spring, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F13/426G06F13/4027Y02B60/1228Y02B60/1235
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,639,498
App. No.
14/141,700
Filed
Dec 27, 2013
Granted
May 2, 2017
Kind
B2
Examiner
NAM, HYUN
Art Unit
2184
USPC
710/313
Abstract

An Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion system includes a chassis having a first end and a second end that is located opposite the chassis from the first end. An Ethernet interface is located on the first end and is configured to directly mate with an Ethernet port on an Ethernet device. A Fibre Channel interface is located on the second end. An Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion engine is housed in the chassis and configured to receive Ethernet protocol signals through the Ethernet interface, convert the Ethernet protocol signals to Fibre Channel protocol signals, and send the Fibre Channel protocol signals through the Fibre Channel interface. The Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion engine is also configured to receive Fibre channel protocol signals from the Fibre Channel IHS through the Fibre Channel interface, convert the Fibre channel protocol signals to Ethernet protocol signals, and send the Ethernet protocol signals through the Ethernet interface.

Claims (42)

1. An Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion system, comprising:

a chassis having a first end and a second end that is located opposite the chassis from the first end;

an Ethernet interface located on the first end of the chassis, wherein the Ethernet interface is the only Ethernet interface on the chassis and is configured to directly mate with an Ethernet port on an Ethernet device;

a Fibre Channel interface located on the second end of the chassis, wherein the Fibre Channel interface is the only Fibre Channel Interface on the chassis;

a protocol conversion processor that is housed in the chassis and that is coupled between the Ethernet interface and the Fibre Channel interface; and

a non-transitory memory storing instructions that, when executed by the protocol conversion processor, cause the protocol conversion processor to:

receive first Ethernet protocol signals through the Ethernet interface, convert the first Ethernet protocol signals to first Fibre Channel protocol signals, and send the first Fibre Channel protocol signals through the Fibre Channel interface; and

receive second Fibre channel protocol signals through the Fibre Channel interface, convert the second Fibre channel protocol signals to second Ethernet protocol signals, and send the second Ethernet protocol signals through the Ethernet interface.

2. The Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion system of claim 1 , wherein the Ethernet interface is a male Ethernet connector.

3. The Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion system of claim 1 , wherein the Fibre Channel interface is a female Fibre channel port.

4. The Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion system of claim 1 , wherein the protocol conversion processor is configured to receive power through the Ethernet interface.

5. The Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a power connector located on the chassis and coupled to the protocol conversion processor, wherein the power connector is configured to couple to a power source and provide power to the protocol conversion processor.

6. The Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion system of claim 1 , wherein the Ethernet interface is the only Ethernet interface on the chassis and includes a male Ethernet connector that is configured to mate directly to a female Ethernet port on the Ethernet device, and wherein the Fibre Channel interface is the only Fibre Channel interface on the chassis and includes a female Fibre Channel port that is configured to mate with a male Fibre Channel connector on a Fibre Channel cable.

7. An information handling system (IHS) network, comprising:

an Ethernet IHS including an Ethernet port;

a Fibre Channel IHS; and

a Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion device providing for communications between the Ethernet IHS and the Fibre Channel IHS, wherein the Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion device includes:

a chassis having a first end and a second end that is located opposite the chassis from the first end;

an Ethernet interface located on the first end of the chassis, wherein the Ethernet interface is the only Ethernet interface on the chassis and is directly mated with the Ethernet port on the Ethernet IHS;

a Fibre Channel interface located on the second end of the chassis, wherein the Fibre Channel interface is coupled to the Fibre Channel IHS, wherein the Fibre Channel interface is the only Fibre Channel Interface on the chassis; and

an Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion engine housed in the chassis and coupled between the Ethernet interface and the Fibre Channel interface, wherein the Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion engine is configured to:

receive first Ethernet protocol signals from the Ethernet IHS through the Ethernet interface, convert the first Ethernet protocol signals to first Fibre Channel protocol signals, and send the first Fibre Channel protocol signals through the Fibre Channel interface to the Fibre Channel IHS; and

receive second Fibre channel protocol signals from the Fibre Channel IHS through the Fibre Channel interface, convert the second Fibre channel protocol signals to second Ethernet protocol signals, and send the second Ethernet protocol signals through the Ethernet interface to the Ethernet IHS.

8. The IHS network of claim 7 , wherein the Ethernet interface is a male Ethernet connector.

9. The IHS network of claim 7 , wherein the Fibre Channel interface is a female Fibre channel port.

10. The IHS network of claim 7 , wherein the Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion engine is configured to receive power through the Ethernet interface.

11. The IHS network of claim 7 , further comprising:

a power connector located on the chassis and coupled to the Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion engine, wherein the power connector is configured to couple to a power source and provide power to the Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion engine.

12. The IHS network of claim 7 , wherein the Ethernet interface is the only Ethernet interface on the chassis and includes a male Ethernet connector that is configured to mate directly to a female Ethernet port on the Ethernet IHS, and wherein the Fibre Channel interface is the only Fibre Channel interface on the chassis and includes a female Fibre Channel port that is configured to mate with a male Fibre Channel connector on a Fibre Channel cable that is coupled to the Fibre Channel IHS.

13. A method for providing for communications between an Ethernet IHS and a Fibre Channel IHS, comprising:

directly mating an Ethernet interface, which is located on a first end of an Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion system chassis and is the only Ethernet interface on the Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion system chassis, to an Ethernet port on an Ethernet IHS;

coupling a Fibre Channel interface, which is located on a second end of the Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion system chassis that is opposite the Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion system chassis from the first end and is the only Fibre Channel Interface on the Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion system chassis, to a Fibre Chnnel IHS;

receiving first Ethernet protocol signals from the Ethernet IHS through the Ethernet interface, converting the first Ethernet protocol signals to first Fibre Channel protocol signals, and sending the first Fibre Channel protocol signals through the Fibre Channel interface to the Fibre Channel IHS; and

receiving second Fibre channel protocol signals from the Fibre Channel IHS through the Fibre Channel interface, converting the second Fibre channel protocol signals to second Ethernet protocol signals, and sending the second Ethernet protocol signals through the Ethernet interface to the Ethernet IHS.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the Ethernet interface is a male Ethernet connector.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the Fibre Channel interface is a female Fibre channel port.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion system chassis houses a processor that is configured to perform the receiving, the converting, and the sending, and the method further comprises:

providing power through the Ethernet interface to the processor.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein a power connector is located on the Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion system chassis and coupled to a processor in the Ethernet/Fibre Channel conversion system chassis that is configured to perform the receiving, the converting, and the sending, and the method further comprises:

coupling a power source to the power connector; and

providing power to the processor.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF REEL 032810 FRAME 0206 (NOTE) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040027/0204 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST OF REEL 032809 FRAME 0930 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040045/0255 →
RELEASE OF REEL 032809 FRAME 0887 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040017/0314 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded May 1, 2014
From: COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 032809/0887 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded May 1, 2014
From: COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032810/0206 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded May 1, 2014
From: COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 032809/0930 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 27, 2013
From: PETRICK, CHRISTOPHER STEPHEN; HAMDI, RABAH S.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 031852/0648 →
Continuity (1)
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