Data structure and method for tracking network topology in a fiber channel port driver
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorRichard D. Gunlock
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A network topology data structure resides in a memory system and is representative of topology of a fiber-channel network. The data structure has at least one device record with pointers for linking device records into a device list, information about a device accessible over the network, and pointers for locating a path link list. The data structure also has at least one node record having pointers for linking node records into a node list, node identity information, and pointers for locating device records. Path link lists, accessible through device records, have path links. Path links have pointers for linking path links into the path link list, and path status information corresponding to status of a path through the fiber channel network.
Claims14
A memory system having at least one level of memory and having stored therein a network topology database representative of topology of a fibre-channel network, the network topology database comprising:
- at least one device record further comprising at least one pointer field for linking the at least one device record into a device list, at least some device information, and at least one pointer field for locating a path link list;
- at least one node record further comprising at least one pointer field for linking the at least one node record into a node list, a field containing node identity information, and at least one pointer field for locating the at least one device record;
- wherein there is at least one path link list accessible through a device record, the path link list comprising at least one path link, each path link further comprising at least one pointer field for linking the at least one path link into the path link list, and path status information.
A method of tracking topology of a storage area network on an initiator node in communication with one or more target nodes comprising the steps of:
- creating an HBA port record having information corresponding to a physical network port of the node and further comprising pointers through which at least one node record may be reached;
- creating a node record for each of the one or more target nodes of the network that are in communication with the initiator node, the node record having at least a node identification and pointers through which at least one device record may be reached;
- and
- creating at least one device record for a device of the one or more target nodes of the network that are in communication with the initiator node, the device record having information comprising device identification and pointers through which path information may be located.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.