HBA boot using network stored information
AssigneeBrocade Communications Systems, Inc.
InventorsVinodh Ravindran, Ramkumar Vadivelu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A storage area network (SAN) fabric stores configuration information for servers connected to the SAN fabric. Configuration data can include target boot device address, topology configuration, etc. The configuration data is stored in a zone database as a zone member list. The zone database is accessible via a name server. To boot from a target boot device connected to the SAN fabric, the server first logs in to the fabric to register with the name server. The server then sends a configuration query to the name server. The name server replies with a member list that includes the address of the target boot device. The server establishes communication with the target boot device and accesses the boot code. The server then runs the boot code to initiate the boot process.
Claims18
A method for configuring a computing device communicably coupled to a storage area network (SAN) fabric, the method comprising:
- sending a configuration query to the SAN fabric;
- receiving configuration information related to booting the computing device from the SAN fabric;
- and
- configuring the computing device based on the received configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises a target boot device address.
A switch communicably coupled to a computing device, the switch comprising:
- a database for storing configuration information related to booting the computing device;
- and
- a name server coupled to the database for receiving a configuration query from the computing device, accessing the database and retrieving the configuration information corresponding to the configuration query, and sending the configuration information to the computing device, wherein the configuration information stored in the database includes a target boot device address.
A host bus adaptor coupled to a computing device and communicably coupled to a SAN fabric, which, in turn, is coupled to a storage device, the host bus adaptor comprising:
- a port for sending data to and receiving data from the SAN fabric;
- and
- a processor operatively coupled to the port, wherein the processor executes code for sending a configuration query to the SAN fabric, receiving configuration information related to booting the computing device from the SAN fabric, and configuring the computing device based on the received configuration information, wherein the configuration information includes an address of the storage device.
A data network comprising:
- a SAN fabric;
- and
- a computing device communicably coupled to the SAN fabric, wherein the computing device receives configuration information related to booting the computing device from the SAN fabric, wherein the configuration information comprises a target boot device address.
A computing device communicably coupled to a SAN fabric, which, in turn, is coupled to a storage device, the computing device comprising:
- a host bus adaptor for communicating with the SAN fabric;
- and
- a server operatively coupled to the host bus adaptor, wherein the host bus adaptor comprises:
- a port for sending data to and receiving data from the SAN fabric;
- and
- a processor operatively coupled to the port, wherein the processor executes code for sending a configuration query to the SAN fabric, receiving configuration information related to booting the server from the SAN fabric, and configuring the server based on the received configuration information, wherein the configuration information includes an address of the storage device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.