Methods and apparatus for selecting a virtualization engine
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorsVaragur V. Chandrasekaran, Sachin Jain
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for efficiently selecting virtualization engines in storage area networks. Initiators, targets, and candidate virtualization engines associated with a virtual logical unit number (VLUN) are identified and characteristics such as latency, network topology, load, and mirroring and striping characteristics are analyzed and used to efficiently select a virtualization engine for a particular VLUN in a storage area network. A virtualization engine can be implemented in a line card associated with a fibre channel switch.
Claims23
A method comprising:
- receiving topology information for a storage area network, the storage area network associated with a virtual logical unit number (VLUN) including a plurality of host initiators, a plurality of targets, and a plurality of candidate virtualization engines;
- determining latency characteristics for performing input/output (I/O) operations between the plurality of host initiators and the plurality of targets using the candidate virtualization engines;
- determining mirroring and striping characteristics associated with the VLUN;
- and
- selecting a virtualization engine from the plurality of candidate virtualization engines for the VLUN based on the average latency and the mirroring and striping characteristics.
A system comprising:
- an interface operable to receive topology information for a storage area network, the storage area network associated with a virtual logical unit number (VLUN) including a plurality of host initiators, a plurality of targets, and a plurality of candidate virtualization engines;
- a processor operable to determine latency characteristics for performing input/output (I/O) operations between the plurality of host initiators and the plurality of targets using the candidate virtualization engines and determine mirroring and striping characteristics associated with the VLUN, wherein the processor selects a virtualization engine from the plurality of candidate virtualization engines for the VLUN based on the average latency and the mirroring and striping characteristics.
An apparatus comprising:
- means for receiving topology information for a storage area network, the storage area network associated with a virtual logical unit number (VLUN) including a plurality of host initiators, a plurality of targets, and a plurality of candidate virtualization engines;
- means for determining latency characteristics for performing input/output (I/O) operations between the plurality of host initiators and the plurality of targets using the candidate virtualization engines;
- means for determining mirroring and striping characteristics associated with the VLUN;
- and
- means for selecting a virtualization engine from the plurality of candidate virtualization engines for the VLUN based on the average latency and the mirroring and striping characteristics.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.