System and method for managing logins in a network interface
View Patent ↗A system and method for managing logins and/or conducting data storage transactions, for example in a network interface. One exemplary embodiment comprises a method for interfacing a mass storage target system with a plurality of initiators. The method includes creating a data structure in local memory of a network interface chip to, at least in part, manage one or more logins; storing information comprising service parameter information m the data structure; and receiving a login request for a login comprising service parameter information. The method further includes comparing the service parameter information of the login request to the service parameter information stored in the data structure; determining, based at least in part on said comparing, to utilize the data structure to manage the login; and managing the login with the network interface chip using at least the data structure.
1. A method for interfacing a mass storage target system with a plurality of initiators, the method comprising:
creating a data structure in local memory of a network interface chip to, at least in part, manage one or more logins;
storing information comprising link service parameter information in the data structure, for maintaining initiator-target communications via a link;
receiving a login request for a login comprising link service parameter information for maintaining initiator-target communications via a link;
comparing the link service parameter information of the login request to the link service parameter information stored in the data structure;
determining, based at least in part on said comparing, to utilize the data structure to manage the login; and
managing the login with the network interface chip using at least the data structure.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the link service parameter information is negotiated during a login interaction between an initiator and a target.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein
managing the login comprises determining how to engage in communications via an intervening communication network.
4. The method of claim 1 , comprising receiving configuration information from a host of the mass storage target system at the network interface chip that indicates to the network interface chip whether login control data structures can only be used in a one-to-one relationship with a respective initiator or whether login control data structures may be used in a one-to-many relationship with a plurality of initiators.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said receiving configuration information occurs during initialization of the mass storage target system.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein said receiving configuration information occurs during post-initialization operation of the mass storage target system.
7. The method of claim 1 , comprising receiving at the network interface chip a first message from a host of the mass storage target system, the first message for directing the network interface chip to transmit a second message to an initiator, the first message comprising information identifying the data structure and information identifying the initiator.
8. The method of claim 1 , comprising transmitting a second message from the network interface chip to a host of the mass storage target system regarding a first message received by the network interface chip from an initiator, the second message comprising information identifying the data structure and information identifying the initiator.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the link service parameter information stored in the data structure comprises an entire set of link service parameter information defined for a communication protocol.
10. A network interface for interfacing a mass storage target system with a plurality of initiators, the network interface comprising:
at least one module operable to, at least:
create a data structure in local memory of a network interface chip to, at least in part, manage one or more logins;
store information comprising link service parameter information in the data structure for maintaining initiator-target communications via a link;
receive a login request for a login comprising link service parameter information for maintaining initiator-target communications via a link;
compare the link service parameter information of the login request to the link service parameter information stored in the data structure;
determine, based at least in part on said comparing, to utilize the data structure to manage the login; and
manage the login with the network interface chip using at least the data structure.
11. The network interface of claim 10 , wherein
the link service parameter information is negotiated during a login interaction between an initiator and a target.
12. The network interface of claim 10 , wherein
managing the login comprises determining how to engage in communications via an intervening communication network.
13. The network interface of claim 10 , wherein said at least one module is operable to receive configuration information from a host of the mass storage target system at the network interface chip that indicates to the network interface chip whether login control data structures can only be used in a one-to-one relationship with a respective initiator or whether login control data structures may be used in a one-to-many relationship with a plurality of initiators.
14. The network interface of claim 13 , wherein said at least one module is operable to receive the configuration information from the host during initialization of the mass storage target system.
15. The network interface of claim 13 , wherein said at least one module is operable to receive the configuration information from the host during post-initialization operation of the mass storage target system.
16. The network interface of claim 10 , wherein said at least one module is operable to receive at the network interface chip a first message from a host of the mass storage target system, the first message for directing the network interface chip to transmit a second message to an initiator, the first message comprising information identifying the data structure and information identifying the initiator.
17. The network interface of claim 10 , wherein said at least one module is operable to transmit a second message from the network interface chip to a host of the mass storage target system regarding a first message received by the network interface chip from an initiator, the second message comprising information identifying the data structure and information identifying the initiator.
18. The network interface of claim 10 , wherein the service parameter information stored in the data structure comprises an entire set of service parameter information defined for a communication protocol.
19. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium embodying program code for interfacing a mass storage target system with a plurality of initiators, the program code comprising a set of instructions, stored on the machine-readable medium, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to at least:
create a data structure in local memory of a network interface chip to, at least in part, manage one or more logins;
store information comprising link service parameter information in the data structure for maintaining initiator-target communications via a link;
receive a login request for a login comprising link service parameter information for maintaining initiator-target communications via a link;
compare the link service parameter information of the login request to the link service parameter information stored in the data structure;
determine, based at least in part on said comparing, to utilize the data structure to manage the login; and
manage the login with the network interface chip using at least the data structure.
20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein
the link service parameter information is negotiated during a login interaction between an initiator and a target.