Method and apparatus for providing virtual ports with attached virtual devices in a storage area network
AssigneeBrocade Communications Systems, Inc.
InventorsNaveen S. Maveli, Subhojit Roy, Richard L. Hammons, Carlos Alonso
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems particularly a virtualization switch or a storage device, which include virtual ports connected to virtual devices with virtual worldwide names and virtual LUNs. Because Fibre Channel environment hosts can track worldwide names from one port to another and allow continuity in that regard, the virtual worldwide names are provided with relevant virtual LUNs and connected these to virtual ports so that the virtual devices can be moved as desired to overcome failures or to allow load balancing.
Claims55
A device comprising:
- a first physical network port;
- a second physical network port;
- a virtual device having an address at a virtual port and a unique worldwide name and originally linked to said first physical network port;
- and
- an element to alter the address of said virtual device to link to said second physical network port while retaining the unique worldwide name for said virtual device.
A fabric comprising:
- a first device including:
- a first physical network port;
- a second physical network port;
- a virtual device having an address at a virtual port and a unique worldwide name and originally linked to said first physical network port;
- and
- an element to alter the address of said virtual device to link to said second physical network port while retaining the unique worldwide name for said virtual device,
- a second device having a physical network port connected to said first physical network port;
- and
- a third device having a physical network port connected to said second physical network port.
A network comprising:
- a fabric including:
- a first device including:
- a first physical network port;
- a second physical network port;
- a virtual device having an address at a virtual port and a unique worldwide name and originally linked to said first physical network port;
- and
- an element to alter the address of said virtual device to link to said second physical network port while retaining the unique worldwide name for said virtual device,
- a second device having a physical network port connected to said first physical network port;
- and
- a third device having a physical network port connected to said second physical network port;
- a host coupled to said first device;
- and
- a storage device coupled to said first device.
A network comprising:
- a fabric including:
- a first device having physical network ports;
- and
- a second device having physical network ports;
- a storage unit including:
- a first physical network port connected to the first device;
- a second physical network port connected to the second device;
- a virtual device having an address at a virtual port and a unique worldwide name and originally linked to said first physical network port;
- and
- an element to alter the address of said virtual device to link to said second physical network port while retaining the unique worldwide name for said virtual device;
- and
- a host coupled to said storage unit using said first and second devices.
A network comprising:
- a fabric including:
- first and second devices, each including:
- a physical network port;
- a communications link for communicating with the other of said first and second devices;
- a virtual device having an address at a virtual port and a unique worldwide name and originally linked to a physical network port of one of said first or second devices;
- and
- an element to alter the address of the virtual device to link to said physical network port of the other of said first and second devices while retaining the unique worldwide name for said virtual device;
- and
- a host coupled to said first and second devices;
- and
- a storage device coupled to said first and second devices.
A method for moving a virtual device from a first physical network port to a second physical network port on a device, the method comprising:
- the device providing the virtual device with an address at a virtual port and a unique world wide name and linked to the first physical network port:
- and the device altering the address of the virtual device to link to the second physical network port while retaining the unique world wide name for the virtual device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.