US 7,558,281 B2
Method and system for configuring fibre channel ports
Frank R. Dropps, Maple Grove, Minn. (US); Gary M. Papenfuss, St. Paul, Minn. (US); and Ernest G. Kohlwey, Eagan, Minn. (US)
Assigned to QLOGIC, Corporation, Aliso Viejo, Calif. (US)
Filed on Jul. 20, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/894,917.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/503812, filed on Sep. 19, 2003.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/537933, filed on Jan. 21, 2004.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/488757, filed on Jul. 21, 2003.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/532965, filed on Dec. 29, 2003.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/504038, filed on Sep. 19, 2003.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/495212, filed on Aug. 14, 2003.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/495165, filed on Aug. 14, 2003.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/503809, filed on Sep. 19, 2003.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/505381, filed on Sep. 23, 2003.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/505195, filed on Sep. 23, 2003.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/557613, filed on Mar. 30, 2004.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/505075, filed on Sep. 23, 2003.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/504950, filed on Sep. 19, 2003.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/532967, filed on Dec. 29, 2003.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/532966, filed on Dec. 29, 2003.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/550250, filed on Mar. 04, 2004.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/569436, filed on May 07, 2004.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/572197, filed on May 18, 2004.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/532963, filed on Dec. 29, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2005/0018650 A1, Jan. 27, 2005
Int. Cl. H04L 12/28 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 370—422 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fibre channel switch element for routing fibre channel frames, comprising:
a fibre channel port that is configured to operate at one or more of a plurality of data transfer rates, wherein a clock rate for one data transfer rate is not an integer multiple of a clock rate for another data transfer rate at which the same fibre channel port is configured to operate; wherein the same fibre channel port uses one interface to support one or more lanes for receiving and transferring frames at the plurality of data transfer rates; and the one interface includes a plurality of selectable serial/de-serializer (SERDES), where a higher number of SERDES and a higher number of lanes are selected for a first data transfer rate, and a lower number of SERDES and a lower number of lanes are selected for supporting a second data transfer rate, where the first data transfer rate is higher than the second data transfer rate.