US 2004/0064545 A1 · Integrated topology management method for storage and IP networks

Abstract

A set of integrated management tools for managing network elements and storage elements within a computer system is provided. The set of integrated management tools includes a SNMP manager module, a management map creation module, a storage network topology information creation module, an IP storage configuration module, a FC configuration module, a RAID configuration module, and a HBA configuration module. In one exemplary aspect, these modules are deployed in a distributed manner within a networked system having a number of nodes. Each node includes an IP server farm and a storage sub-system or network, such as, a SAN. Some of the nodes respectively include a local storage management (LSM) server. Some of the modules within the set of integrated management tools reside on the LSM server. For example, the SNMP manager module, portions of the management map creation module, the storage network topology information creation module, the IP storage configuration module, the FC configuration module, the RAID configuration module, and the HBA configuration module may reside on the LSM server. One node within the networked system includes a global storage management (GSM) server. Portions of the management map creation module resides on the GSM server. The GSM server communicates with the various LSM servers to facilitate control and management of the various nodes within the networked system.

Claims39

Dependent claims

A system for managing a plurality of network functions and a plurality of storage functions within a computer system, comprising:

a local storage management server configured to collect device and topology information from a plurality of devices being managed by the local storage management server, the plurality of devices including a plurality of network elements and a plurality of storage elements;
and
a global storage management server configured to receive the device and topology information from the local storage management server and display the device and topology information for viewing and management purposes;
wherein the local storage management server communicates with the global storage management server to forward the device and topology information via a computer network.

1 more element

A storage network management application designed to function in cooperation with a network management system having a plurality of network management functions, comprising:

a network management system bridge module configured to provide a plurality of SNMP functions and network mapping functions to manage a plurality of network elements;
a storage network topology information creation module configured to collect and manage network topology information relating to a plurality of storage elements;
and
a plurality of configuration modules, each capable of being invoked to manage a storage element based on the network topology information, the plurality of configuration modules including:
an IP storage configuration module configured to manage information relating to IP storage configuration;
a FC configuration module configured to manage information relating to Fibre Channel storage configuration;
a RAID configuration module configured to manage information relating to RAID device configuration;
and
a HBA configuration module configured to manage information relating to HBA device configuration.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Integrated topology management method for storage and IP networks

Life of this patent

Integrated topology management method for storage and IP networks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims39