Method and apparatus for low latency network performance monitoring

Abstract

A method and apparatus for reducing latency caused by cumulative point-to-point messaging associated with network performance monitoring in SAN-attached I2O architectures. In a computer system, a performance monitoring OSM associated with a first node generates status request messages to a first multicast ISM residing on a first governor IOP associated with a first node for requesting the status from all nodes. The first multicast ISM generates status request messages to all node 1 devices and node 1 IOPs and to a second multicast ISM residing on a node 2 governor IOP. The second multicast ISM generates status request messages to all node 2 devices and node 2 IOPs. One or more “unhealthy” device response messages may be sent to the performance monitoring OSM containing the TID of the “unhealthy” device to allow a subsequent point-to-point detailed status request message to be issued. For “healthy” nodes, a response message is issued to an adjacent governor IOP with an “all fine” indication and the TID set to the TID of the governor IOP. If all nodes in the network are “healthy”, an “all fine” indication is passed to the performance monitoring OSM with the TID set to the TID of the governor IOP of the performance monitoring node.

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