Storage area network methods and apparatus for dynamically enabled storage device masking

In a storage area network (SAN) of the type having

• one or more host digital data processors in communication with one or more storage devices and having a computer readable medium,
• wherein at least a selected host digital data processor operates under an operating system in which a storage device is claimed before it can be accessed by application programs executing on that selected host digital data processor, wherein the application programs and operating system are implemented in the computer readable medium
• the improvement comprising
• a manager digital data processor, coupled to at least the selected digital data processor, responsive to operator/administrator input for transmitting software comprising a filter to the selected host digital data processor,
• the filter subsequently executing on the selected host digital data in the at least one computer readable medium to block claiming of one or more selected storage devices by the operating system of that digital data processor.

In a storage area network (SAN) of the type having

• one or more host digital data processors in communication with one or more storage devices,
• wherein at least a selected host digital data processor includes a computer readable medium and operates under an operating system in which a storage device is claimed before it can be accessed by application programs executing on that selected host digital data processor, wherein the operating system and application programs are included in the computer readable medium,
• the improvement comprising
• a manager digital data processor, coupled to at least the selected host digital data processor, responsive to operator/administrator input for assigning storage units to the host digital data processors, where each of the storage devices is associated with one or more logical unit numbers (LUNs),
• a selectively actuable filter in communication with at least the operating system of the selected host digital data processor, the filter intervening to block claiming of one or more selected storage devices by that operating system,
• the manager transmits one or more LUNs to the filter to effect assignment of the associated storage devices to the selected host digital data processors,
• the filter, when actuated, intervening to block claiming of SAN-class storage devices other than those associated wit the LUNs transmitted to the filter.

In a storage area network (SAN) of the type having

• one or more host digital data processors in communication with one or mare storage devices,
• wherein at least a selected host digital data processor includes a computer readable medium and operates under an operating system in which a storage device is claimed before it can be accessed by application programs executing on that selected host digital data processor, wherein the operating system and application programs are included in the computer readable medium,
• the improvement comprising
• a manager digital data processor, coupled to at least the selected host digital data processor, responsive to operator/administrator input for assigning storage units to the host digital data processors, where each of the storage devices is associated wit one or more logical unit numbers (LUNs),
• the manager digital data processor being further responsive to operator/administrator input for transmitting software comprising a filter to the selected host digital data processor,
• the manager transmitting one or more LUNs to the filter to effect assignment of the associated storage devices to the selected host digital data processors,
• the filter intervening to block claiming of SAN-class storage devices other than those associated with the LUNs transmitted to the filter.