# US 8,751,698 B1 · Storage path management host agent > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,751,698 B1 - Document ID: US8751698B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/250,583 - Filed: 2011-09-30 - Granted: 2014-06-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-30 - Assignees: EMC Corporation - Applicants: Vinay S. Sachdev; Harold M. Sandstrom; Todd R. Gill - Inventors: Vinay S. Sachdev; Harold M. Sandstrom; Todd R. Gill - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751698B1 ## CPC - G06F 11/0781: {Error filtering or prioritizing based on a policy defined by the user or on a policy defined by a hardware/software module, e.g. according to a severity level} - G06F 11/0727: {in a storage system, e.g. in a DASD or network based storage system (drivers for digital recording or reproducing units G06F3/06; circuits for error detection or correction within digital recording or reproducing units G11B20/18; for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097)} - G06F 11/0784: {Routing of error reports, e.g. with a specific transmission path or data flow} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract In large complex multi-path storage environments, knowing there is a problem is extremely valuable. Example embodiments of the present invention include a management framework that provides an easy to use and read graphical perspective that allows analysis of faults in a multi-path storage environment. The architecture is not only responsive, scalable, and robust, but also provides “middleware” services to a broad spectrum of enterprise management applications whose domains may extend beyond storage path management. The management framework includes a consolidator that, along with an agent on the hosts, supports an administrator in: collecting storage path information from hosts; summarizing, aggregating, filtering, and reformatting storage path information to serve enterprise management needs and policies; forwarding an alert regarding storage path information to interested managers; routing storage path management commands from managers to hosts; and reporting command completion status from the host back to the requesting manager. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving a plurality of storage path management information items, including storage path management events and storage path resource information, having respective storage path management information types at an agent operating on a host in a multi-pathing environment; creating at the agent an alert regarding received storage path management information items having a particular storage path management information type; and distributing the alert from the agent to management entities in the multi-pathing environment configured to receive alerts regarding storage path management information items having the particular storage path management information type. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein creating at the agent an alert regarding received storage path management information items having a particular storage path management information type comprises analyzing the plurality of storage path management information items. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein analyzing the plurality of storage path information management items comprises: summarizing the storage path management information items; aggregating the storage path management information items; and filtering the storage path management information items according to respective storage path management information item types. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein filtering the storage path management information items according to respective storage path management information items comprises: examining a stream of storage path management information items; determining the respective storage path management information types for storage path management information items in the stream; and categorizing the storage path management information items according to the respective determined storage path management information type. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein distributing the alert from the agent to management entities in the multi-pathing environment configured to receive alerts regarding storage path management information items having the particular storage path management information type comprises: preparing the alert at the agent for distribution to management entities in the multi-pathing environment according to a protocol understood by the management entities; and distributing the alert from the agent to management entities in the multi-pathing environment according to the protocol understood by the management entities. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein distributing the alert from the agent to management information to listening management entities in the multi-pathing environment according to the protocol understood by the management entities comprises transferring the to management entities monitoring storage path management information items having the storage path management information type. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving a storage path management request from a management entity; and processing the storage path management request. ### Claim 8 An apparatus comprising: a receiver module configured to receive a plurality of storage path management information items, including storage path management events and storage path resource information, having respective storage path management information types at an agent operating on a host in a multi-pathing environment; an analyzer module configured to create at the agent an alert regarding received storage path management information items having a particular storage path management information type; and a distributor module configured to distribute the alert from the agent to management entities in the multi-pathing environment configured to receive alerts regarding storage path management information items having the particular storage path management information type. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the analyzer module is further configured to analyze the plurality of storage path management information items. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the analyzer module is further configured to summarize the storage path management information items, aggregate the storage path management information items, and filter the storage path management information items according to respective storage path management information item types. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the analyzer module is further configured to examine a stream of storage path management information items, determine the respective storage path management information types for storage path management information items in the stream, and categorize the storage path management information items according to the respective determined storage path management information type. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the distributor module is further configured to prepare the alert at the agent for distribution to management entities in the multi-pathing environment according to a protocol understood by the management entities and distribute the alert from the agent to management entities in the multi-pathing environment according to the protocol understood by the management entities. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the distributor module is further configured to transfer the alert to management entities monitoring storage path management information items having the storage path management information type. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the receiver module is further configured to receive a storage path management request from a management entity; and wherein the analyzer module is further configured to process the storage path management request. ### Claim 15 A computer-program product including a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-program code that, when executed on a processor of a computer, cause the computer to distribute an alert according to storage path information, the computer-program product comprising: computer program code for receiving a plurality of storage path management information items, including storage path management events and storage path resource information, having a respective storage path information types at an agent operating on a host in a multi-pathing environment; computer program code for creating at the agent an alert regarding received storage path management information items having a particular storage path management information type; and computer program code for distributing the alert from the agent to management entities in the multi-pathing environment configured to receive alerts regarding storage path management information items having the particular storage path management information type. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computer-program product of claim 15 wherein computer program code for creating at the agent an alert regarding received storage path management information items having a particular storage path management information type comprises: computer program code for summarizing the storage path management information items; computer program code for aggregating the storage path management information items; and computer program code for filtering the storage path management information according to respective storage path management information item types; and wherein computer program code for distributing an alert from the agent to management entities in the multi-pathing environment configured to receive alerts regarding storage path management information items having the particular storage path management information type comprises: computer program code for preparing the alert at the agent for distribution to management entities in the multi-pathing environment according to a protocol understood by the management entities; and computer program code for distributing the alert from the agent to management entities in the multi-pathing environment according to the protocol understood by the management entities. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The computer-program product of claim 16 wherein computer program code for filtering the storage path management information items according to respective storage path information items comprises: computer program code for examining a stream of storage path management information items; computer program code for determining the respective storage path management information types for storage path management information items in the stream; and computer program code for categorizing the storage path management information items according to the respective determined storage path management information type. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The computer-program product of claim 15 further comprising: computer program code for receiving a storage path management request from a management entity; and computer program code for processing the storage path management request.