44 results about "World Wide Name" patented technology

A storage controller has at least one physical data port for a data network including host processors. The storage controller is programmed to provide a plurality of virtual ports for access to storage, and a virtual switch for routing storage access requests from the physical port to the virtual ports. The virtual ports and the virtual switch are defined by software. The virtual ports appear to the hosts as physical ports in the data network. For example, in a Fiber-Channel network, the virtual ports have World Wide Names (WWNs) and are assigned temporary addresses (S_Ds), and the virtual switch provides a name server identifying the WWNs and S_IDs of the virtual ports. For convenient partitioning of storage among host processors, one or more virtual ports are assigned to each host, and a set of storage volumes are made accessible from each virtual port. A host can access storage at a virtual port only if the virtual port has been assigned to the host. Preferably, storage can be accessed through each virtual port by no more than one assigned host, although a shared volume may be accessible from more than one virtual port. The storage controller may provide a service for reporting to a host the virtual ports through which the host can access storage, and the storage volumes that are accessible to the host through each of the virtual ports.

Disclosed are a system, a method, and article of manufacture to provide for managing removable storage media that is identified by a persistent worldwide name. SAN storage management is enhanced by preserving the persistent worldwide names assigned to removable storage media when it is necessary to replace the removable storage media. Exemplary embodiments include determining that a first removable storage media identified by a persistent worldwide name needs to be replaced, creating a copy of the data from the first removable storage media and assigning the persistent worldwide name to the second removable storage media.

Information handling system network addresses are managed to support a consistent MAC address for iSCSI and fibre channel host bus adapter. For example, a management controller retrieves a MAC address from persistent memory, such as a network location, and assigns the MAC address to a non-persistent memory of a predetermined information handling system network component so that the MAC address remains consistent even if the network component is replaced. For example, an offload engine that supports network communications with iSCSI receives a MAC address from a network location and applies the MAC address for use by a host bus adapter. Alternatively, an offload engine supports Fibre Channel with World Wide Name or World Wide Identifier address assignments.

A diskless host computer is automatically configured upon adding it to storage-area network (SAN). Upon physically connecting the diskless host computer to the network, the host computer alerts the network and a control station of its presence. A suitable identifier provided by the host, such as a Fibre Channel World Wide Name, is used to look up a configuration corresponding to a host of its type. Configurations corresponding to all types of hosts expected to be connected to the network are pre-stored in the SAN data storage system. Each configuration includes an operating system and can include any other software related to configuring or installing a new host. The control station then provides access to a storage device on which the operating system is stored so that the host can boot from it or access it for any other purposes.

A plurality of storage systems are connected by a fibre channel so that remote copy can be made through the fibre channel. At the time of remote copy, World Wide Name is used in order for the storage systems to recognize each other and be connected together. The World Wide Name is information unique to port, and depends upon boards having ports. The storage system as the copy source sends a login request including other information than the World Wide Name from which the login from the storage system can be recognized, while the storage system on the login receiving side sends back information indicative of a port that can participate in the remote copy, so that a storage system and port hopeful for remote copy can be decided from the remote site only when the login from the storage system can be recognized.

Initiators and targets in a storage area network are presented as virtualized devices by a virtualization engine. An initiator accesses a virtualized target as though it was accessing a physical target. A target accesses a virtualized initiator as though it was accessing a physical initiator. A virtualization engine performs port World Wide Name (WWN) and FCID mapping to allow continued access to virtual initiators and virtual targets even if a particular physical initiator or physical target fails and the secondary is made active.

The present invention relates to a method for implementing an address mapping scheme within a serial attached SCSI enabled storage area network environment comprising respectively assigning a world wide name of each device comprised within a storage area network to a plurality of switch ports that are comprised within a serial attached SCSI (SAS) switch that is comprised within the storage area network, and assigning each port comprised within the SAS switch to a zone grouping. Further, the respective world wide names of each device that each world wide name will have the right to access is determined, and thereafter a SAS zone permissions table is built comprising the world wide names of each device that each world wide names has the right to access. The world wide names, the SAS switch port assignments, and the SAS zone permission tables are saved to a file or database.

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for data tapping within a storage area network (SAN) and providing tapped data to a third party device, such as an appliance. In general, mechanisms are provided in a SAN to allow a data tap of data flowing between an initiator and a target. In one implementation, a data virtual target (DVT) in created in a network device to intercept data sent by a specific initiator to a specific logical unit of a specific target. The data or a copy of the data is sent to both the specific logical unit of the specific target and to an appliance. The data routing may be accomplished by use of a virtual initiator (VI), which is configured to send the data (or a copy of the data) to the specific target and the appliance. In a transparent mode of operations, the DVT has a same PWWN (port world wide name) and FCID (fibre channel identifier) as the specific target. In a first proxy mode of operation, the DVT has a different PWWN and FCID than the specific target. In a second proxy mode of operation, the DVT has a same PWWN and different FCID than the specific target.

A network switch allows defining a virtual port worldwide name (VPWWN) and associating the VPWWN with an F_port of the network switch, for use by a host bus adaptor (HBA) connecting to the network switch. Both a default and a user VPWWN may be defined, with the user VPWWN typically taking precedence over the default VPWWN. A database of VPWWN associations may be used to ensure uniqueness of the user VPWWN. Where the HBA allows dynamic assignment of WWNs, the VPWWN may be pushed to the HBA. The VPWWNs may be deleted, and moved to another port as desired.

A technique enables efficient access to logical unit numbers (luns) or virtual disks (vdisks) stored on a storage system, such as a multi-protocol storage appliance. The technique allows a grouping of initiators by a “human friendly” logical name that is mapped to a lun or vdisk on the storage appliance. The initiators are clients operating in, e.g., a storage area network (SAN) environment that initiate requests for the vdisk using block-based access protocols, such as the Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) protocol encapsulated over TCP / IP (iSCSI) or over fibre channel (FCP). The technique enables access to the vdisk by all initiators that are members of the initiator group (igroup). An igroup is a logical named entity that is assigned to one or more addresses associated with one or more initiators. These addresses may comprise fibre channel (FC) world wide name (WWN) or iSCSI name identifiers (IDs). Therefore, rather than having to specify these IDs when desiring access to a vdisk, an initiator need only specify the human friendly name of the igroup.

This disclosure describes a new method to browse and interact with the World Wide Web and other users while mobile comprising the following components: 1) a mobile communications device including but not limited to Blackberries, personal data assistants, or smartphones; 2) special glasses or viewing surface including but not limited to LCD (liquid crystal display) glasses, 3 -dimensional goggles, or Organic LED (light emitting diode) panels; 3) a data input device including but not limited to a data glove, finger sensor, data input pen, or gesturing device; 4) a mobile communications device headset; and 5) a third generation or more powerful wireless carrier, Voice over IP provider, or a wireless LAN technology such as WiFi or, Wi-Max, or Bluetooth.

In one implementation, a system includes multiple SCSI nodes configured to perform a SCSI target function. Each of the multiple SCSI nodes includes a host bus adaptor configured to connect the SCSI node with a Fibre Channel fabric. The host bus adaptor being assigned a world wide name and a network address. The system further includes a host configured to perform a SCSI initiator function. The world wide name assigned to a source host bus adaptor associated with one SCSI node is relocated to a target host bus adaptor associated with another SCSI node. After that, the network address associated with the source host bus adaptor is relocated to the target host bus adaptor. In one implementation, the system determines whether or not a network address assigned to a source host bus adaptor associated with one of the multiple SCSI nodes is shared with at least one other service. If so, the system determined whether the shared network address can be relocated to a target host bus adaptor associated with another one of the multiple of SCSI nodes. If the latter determination is in affirmative, the world wide name and network address are relocated.

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.

A mechanism is provided for configuring a set of devices for a given machine attached to a storage area network. The initial program load firmware and network adapter firmware for each machine on the storage area network are modified to query a storage area network appliance for lists of devices. The storage area network appliance may be identified by a world wide name and may store lists of boot devices, root volume group devices, primary devices, and secondary devices for each machine on the storage area network. The storage area network appliance then listens for queries and returns the appropriate list of devices based on query type and / or boot type. The boot type for a machine may be set to normal boot, maintenance boot, or install boot.

Respective WWNs (World Wide Names) which can be allocated to a plurality of computers, business application identity information of programs to be booted and area identity information, of areas in a storage system in which the programs are stored, are associated and stored. In response to the entry of a boot request including the business application identity information of a designated computer to be booted, the WWN and the area identity information corresponding to the business application identity information are sent to the computer in order to boot the program. In the computer, the sent WWN is set and the area identity information is set as the area to be booted. Subsequently, by means of a restart of the computer, the program stored in the area is booted to operate.

A method, apparatus, system and computer program product that provide a virtual worldwide name (vWWN) nameservice in a Fiber Channel storage area network (SAN) are provided. Embodiments of the vWWN nameservice can receive a request for a vWWN from a node in the SAN, where the request includes a identifier associated with resources in the SAN, then determine if the identifier matches contents of a field in one or more entries in a vWWN table or database, and provide the vWWN associated with a matching entry to the requesting node.

Provided are techniques for filling a drive table. A key request including at least one of a drive serial number and a world wide node name is received from a data storage drive. It is determined whether the drive serial number or a world wide node name are in an entry in a drive table. In response to determining that the drive serial number or a world wide node name are not in an entry in a drive table, a new entry is automatically added in the drive table that includes the at least one of a drive serial number and a world wide node name.

A host interface dual active fibre channel adaptive hub includes two fibre channel arbitrated loops, a loop healing switch coupled to both loops, and four loop resiliency circuits. Each loop has a controller and a host server coupled to it through a respective loop resiliency circuit. The host servers issue I / O requests to the controllers through the dual fibre channel arbitrated loops. Therefore in normal operation, with both loops active and both controllers operational, the system provides twice the bandwidth of a conventional single loop fibre channel arbitrated loop system. The loop resiliency circuits detect failures in the controllers. If a loop resiliency circuit detects a failure in a controller, the loop resiliency circuit outputs a failure signal to the loop healing switch. A failed controller also notifies the loop healing switch that it has failed. The loop healing switch then switches to couple the two fibre channel arbitrated loops into a single loop. Also the loop resiliency circuit switches the failed controller out of the loop. At the same time, the surviving controller starts a failover process to claim ownership of all disk drives in the system, and present the failed controller's logical units (LUNs) on its host port as well as it own LUNs. Using the multiple target ID capability of the controller, the surviving controller host port now responds to requests from both host servers by assuming the arbitrated loop physical address (ALPA) and World Wide Name (WWN) of the failed controller in addition to its own ALPA and WWN. Combining the dual fibre channel arbitrated loops with the loop healing switch thereby provides both servers an access path through the surviving controller to the disk drive array.

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for generating a name for a system of devices. An identifier identifies each component in the system. Once each component is identified, information such as the World Wide Name (WWN) of each component is stored in a database. Additional information such as the IP address of each component may also be stored within the database. A comparator then compares a name such as the WWN of each component and selects the name of a selected component based on specified parameters provided by a user. The selected name is modified and then assigned as an identifier of the entire system of devices. The system of devices is thus assigned a unique identifier that remains the same each time those components form a system of devices.

Methods and apparatus are provided for improving name services in a fibre channel fabric. Either a world wide name or an alias can be used to uniquely identify a device such as a storage device on a fibre channel fabric. World wide name and alias associations are maintained in an alias database that is synchronized on connected fibre channel switches in a physical fibre channel fabric. Devices can be moved from one switch to another while maintaining alias and world wide name associations.

A storage network may include one or more hosts connected to one or more storage systems. The storage network may be a Fibre Channel switched fabric and may include many different components such as Field Replaceable Units (FRUs). A component, such as a disk drive in a disk storage array, may be coupled to the storage network. A removable configuration module comprising configuration data for configuring the component for access via the storage network may be coupled to the component. The configuration data may include a unique component identifier, logical and physical layout data, component status indicators, etc. The unique component identifier may include a World Wide Name (WWN) and a media access control (MAC) address. The removable configuration module may be decoupled from the component and coupled to a different component. The different component may be readily accessible by the storage network.

A DNS server includes one or more zones that store information, such as IP addresses, associated with domain names. These zones include a global names zone that stores data correlating host names to domain names. When a name query is received from a client device, the DNS server checks the global names zone for a record associated with the host name. If there is no record for the host name in the global names zone, then the query is answered using the DNS records found in a local copy of the authoritative zone. If there is a record for the host name in the global names zone, then the query is answered using the DNS records found in the global names zone. The IP address associated with the domain name is determined and returned to the client device.

An apparatus, system, and method by which, if hard disk drives used within disk array systems are removed and installed in another disk array system or attempted to be accessed by another device, data in the hard disk drives cannot be accessed. In one embodiment, a disk array system sets a password onto each hard disk drive. The hard disk drives reject access from disk array systems or computer systems until a correct password is input. In alternative embodiments, hard disk drives memorize one or more World Wide Names (WWNs) of the disk array system. After memorizing a WWN, the hard disk drives allow access only from the disk array system having the same WWN as the one that the hard disk drives memorized. Thus, the hard disk drives are normally inaccessible after they are removed from a disk array system.

Collection of topology mapping linkage information between a Storage Area Network (“SAN”) and a transparent interconnecting transport network is at least partially automated. Physical topology information is gathered by detecting use of a physical path between a port of a first SAN device and a port of a second SAN device logically proximate to the transport network. This may be accomplished by discovering World Wide Names of end-points in a Fibre Channel SAN, and discovering Media Access Control addresses of end-points in an Ethernet SAN. The discovered physical topology information is then employed with known transport network logical topology information to determine which logical path or paths are associated with the physical path, i.e., to generate a mapping.

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.