System and method to determine fibre channel device locations using GPS

An information handling system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a memory accessible by the processors;
• a nonvolatile storage device accessible by the processors;
• a GPS receiving device accessible by the processors;
• a network adapter operable to connect the information handling system to a computer network that includes a Fibre Channel fabric;
• a Fibre Channel adapter connecting the information handling device to the Fibre Channel fabric;
• and
• a device identification tool for locating a device in a computer network, the device identification tool including:
• means for receiving, at the information handling system, a Fibre Channel request from a second device;
• means for identifying one or more GPS coordinates from the GPS receiving device in response to receiving the request;
• means for writing the GPS coordinates and device identification information corresponding to the first device to a response payload;
• and
• means for transmitting the response payload through the computer network to the second device.

A computer program product stored on a computer operable medium for identifying a device location in a computer network that includes a Fibre Channel fabric, said computer program product comprising:

• means for receiving, at a first device, a Fibre Channel request from a second device;
• means for identifying one or more GPS coordinates in response to receiving the request;
• means for writing the GPS coordinates and device identification information corresponding to the first device to a response payload;
• and
• means for transmitting the response payload through the computer network to the second device.

A method for identifying a device location in a computer network said method comprising:

• receiving a GPS event;
• identifying one or more GPS coordinates in response to receiving the event;
• packaging the GPS coordinates;
• transmitting the packaged coordinates through the computer network to a second device;
• receiving the packaged coordinates at the second device;
• storing the packaged coordinates in a GPS storage area accessible to the second device, wherein the GPS storage area includes packaged coordinates for a plurality of devices;
• receiving catastrophe data, the catastrophe data including a catastrophe area defined by a plurality of catastrophe GPS coordinates;
• comparing the catastrophe GPS coordinates to the plurality of packaged coordinates stored in the GPS storage area;
• determining which of the devices are within the catastrophe area based on the comparison;
• and
• determining which of the devices are outside the catastrophe area based on the comparison.

An information handling system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a memory accessible by the processors;
• a nonvolatile storage device accessible by the processors;
• a GPS receiving device accessible by the processors;
• a network adapter operable to connect the information handling system to a computer network;
• and
• a device identification tool for locating a device in a computer network, the device identification tool including:
• means for receiving a GPS event;
• means for identifying one or more GPS coordinates from the GPS receiving device in response to receiving the event;
• means for packaging the GPS coordinates;
• and
• means for transmitting the packaged coordinates through the computer network to a second device;
• means for receiving the packaged coordinates at the second device;
• means for storing the packaged coordinates in a GPS storage area accessible to the second device, wherein the GPS storage area includes packaged coordinates for a plurality of devices;
• means for receiving catastrophe data, the catastrophe data including a catastrophe area defined by a plurality of catastrophe GPS coordinates;
• means for comparing the catastrophe GPS coordinates to the plurality of packaged coordinates stored in the GPS storage area;
• means for determining which of the devices are within the catastrophe area based on the comparison;
• and
• means for determining which of the devices are outside the catastrophe area based on the comparison.

A computer program product stored on a computer operable medium for identifying a device location in a computer network, said computer program product comprising:

• means for receiving a GPS event;
• means for identifying one or more GPS coordinates in response to receiving the event;
• means for packaging the GPS coordinates;
• means for transmitting the packaged coordinates through the computer network to a second device;
• means for receiving the packaged coordinates at the second device;
• means for storing the packaged coordinates in a GPS storage area accessible to the second device, wherein the GPS storage area includes packaged coordinates for a plurality of devices;
• means for receiving catastrophe data, the catastrophe data including a catastrophe area defined by a plurality of catastrophe GPS coordinates;
• means for comparing the catastrophe GPS coordinates to the plurality of packaged coordinates stored in the GPS storage area;
• means for determining which of the devices are within the catastrophe area based on the comparison;
• and
• means for determining which of the devices are outside the catastrophe area based on the comparison.