Automated LUN Management via Agent-Based Probing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LUN management tools require significant manual input, leading to inefficiencies and excessive administrative time in configuring and managing logical units within storage systems, especially in large enterprise networks with thousands of LUNs.
Innovation Solution
An automated system using an agent running on a management console to probe and configure storage systems, providing instructions compliant with standards like SMI-S or WBEM, to establish connections, mount storage systems, and manage data communication between hosts and storage systems, thereby reducing manual labor and increasing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual LUN configuration methods are used, then administrators can configure storage systems, but significant administrative time and manual labor are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation where the management console automatically discovers storage systems, probes for configuration information, and provisions LUNs without requiring manual administrator intervention. The automated agent performs all configuration tasks independently, transforming a manual process into an autonomous self-service system.
Solution Approach 2:
An automated agent serving as an intermediary between the administrator and the storage system is introduced. This agent executes on the management console and handles all intermediate steps of LUN provisioning, including discovery, configuration, and mounting operations, thereby eliminating the need for direct manual configuration while reducing administrative time.
2Productivity
If automated configuration is implemented, then administrative time is reduced, but system complexity increases due to automated agents and probing mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The automated agent is designed as a universal multi-functional component that handles multiple tasks including system discovery, information probing, LUN configuration, and mounting operations. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single automated agent, the system achieves high productivity while managing complexity through functional integration rather than proliferation of separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the automated agent continuously probes storage systems to gather configuration information and monitors provisioning status. This feedback loop enables the agent to automatically adjust configuration parameters and verify successful LUN mounting, achieving efficient automated provisioning while managing complexity through intelligent control rather than rigid predetermined sequences.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage system to be used by a host is automatically configured using an agent running at a management console communicatively coupled to the host and to the storage system. In response to probes initiated by the agent, information regarding the host and the storage system, which information is required for the host and the storage system to establish a connection therebetween is obtained and is provided to the host and the storage system. Thereafter, the agent instructs the host and the storage system to establish the connection and further instructs the host to configure the storage system and, finally, to mount the storage system in some instances, the agent may use instruction compliant with the storage management initiative-specification (SMI-S) or, more generally, with the WBEM standard.