Method and system for identifying storage devices
AssigneeNetApp, Inc.
InventorsRichard Meyer, Glen C. Yu, Rahim Ibrahim, Gen-Hwa Chiang, Kwan Sang Yap
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments according to the invention perform functions including discovery, classification, and profiling of storage devices, computer systems, connection elements, and other components relating to a storage area network (SAN). Changes to the SAN topology are tracked in order to show growth patterns.
Claims27
A method of operating a storage management device, the method comprising:
- obtaining, at the storage management device, device information from a plurality of mass storage devices that are external to the storage management device;
- initializing and profiling the mass storage devices based on the device information;
- and
- communicating via a network between the storage management device and a plurality of host computers that are external to the storage management device, to enable the host computers to access data in the mass storage devices.
A storage management device comprising:
- a plurality of first data ports through which the storage management device can communicate with a plurality of host computers that are external to the storage management device via a network;
- a plurality of second data ports through which the storage management device can communicate with a plurality of mass storage devices that are external to the storage management device;
- a switch fabric configured to selectively transfer data between pairs of data ports, each said pair including one of the first data ports and one of the second data ports;
- logic to cause the storage management device to obtain device information from the mass storage devices;
- and
- logic to cause the storage management device to initialize and profile the mass storage devices based on the device information.
A method of operating a storage management device, the method comprising:
- communicating via a network between the storage management device and a plurality of host computers that are external to the storage management device;
- communicating between the storage management device and a plurality of mass storage devices that are external to the storage management device;
- and
- in the storage management device, automatically detecting and characterizing changes in a topology of the plurality of mass storage devices.
A storage management device comprising:
- means for communicating via a network between the storage management device and a plurality of host computers that are external to the storage management device;
- means for communicating between the storage management device and a plurality of mass storage devices that are external to the storage management device;
- and
- means for automatically detecting and characterizing, in the storage management device, changes in a topology of the mass storage devices.
A method of operating a storage management device, the method comprising:
- communicating via a network between the storage management device and a plurality of host computers that are external to the storage management device;
- obtaining device information corresponding to a plurality of physical storage devices that are external to the storage management device;
- identifying a plurality of communication paths between the storage management device and the physical storage devices;
- generating path information indicative of the communication paths;
- receiving user-provided information relating to a virtual storage configuration;
- and
- associating the physical storage devices with the virtual storage configuration based on the device information, the user-provided information and the path information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.