A system and method for providing transparent communications between an
Infiniband (IB) network and a Fibre Channel (FC) network are disclosed.
One method comprises: (a) detecting FC node ports in the FC network; (b)
creating virtual IB targets for each FC node port in the FC network; and
(c) converting IB packets directed to the virtual IB targets into FC
frames directed to the corresponding FC node port. It may further
comprise intercepting management packets directed to the virtual IB
targets and responsively emulating a subnet management agent (SMA) of the
addressed virtual IB target. Another method comprises: (a) detecting IB
channel adapters; (b) creating a virtual FC target for each IB channel
adapter; and (c) converting any FC frames directed to the virtual FC
targets into IB packets directed to the corresponding IB channel adapter.
Fabric frames directed to the virtual FC targets may be intercepted and
handled appropriately.