Target Discovery Manager for Multi-Protocol iSCSI Device Enumeration
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Solution Overview
Problem
iSCSI storage area networks face challenges in providing a scalable and platform-independent means for target device discovery and management, as existing methods are either inefficient for large environments or require significant processing resources, leading to inconsistent discovery environments and complex protocol management.
Innovation Solution
A target discovery manager is introduced between the host initiator and discovery protocols, maintaining a list of discovered target devices and prioritizing associated protocols, enabling efficient discovery and enumeration by coalescing results from multiple protocols and initiating parallel discovery processes when needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple discovery protocols are used to discover target devices in iSCSI SAN, then the completeness of device discovery is improved, but the processing overhead and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a target discovery manager as an intermediary component that sits between the host initiator and multiple discovery protocols. This manager coordinates the execution of multiple discovery protocols (iSNS, SLP, SendTargets, static discovery), consolidates their results, and presents a unified view to the initiator. By centralizing protocol management in this intermediary layer, the system achieves comprehensive device discovery while keeping the complexity isolated in the manager rather than propagating it throughout the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the discovery process into distinct modular components: the host initiator, the target discovery manager, and multiple independent discovery protocols (iSNS, SLP, SendTargets, static discovery). Each protocol operates as an independent module that can be executed selectively. The discovery manager orchestrates these segmented components, allowing the system to use multiple protocols for complete discovery while managing complexity through modular architecture where each segment has a specific, isolated function.
2Reliability
If multiple discovery protocols are executed to ensure comprehensive target device enumeration, then the reliability of device discovery is improved, but the processing time and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic protocol selection and execution where the target discovery manager adaptively determines which discovery protocols to execute based on the specific environment and requirements. Rather than rigidly executing all protocols in a fixed sequence, the manager can dynamically adjust the discovery process - selecting appropriate protocols based on available information, environmental conditions, and priority requirements. This dynamic approach ensures comprehensive discovery when needed while reducing time loss when fewer protocols suffice.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the target discovery manager prepare and organize the execution of discovery protocols in advance. The manager can pre-establish protocol priorities, configure protocol parameters, and prepare discovery sequences before actual device discovery is needed. This preliminary setup allows the system to efficiently execute multiple protocols when required while avoiding unnecessary protocol execution in scenarios where simpler discovery methods suffice, thereby reducing overall processing time.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a unified target device register is maintained across multiple protocols, then the consistency of device management is improved, but the complexity of protocol coalescence and prioritization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges results from multiple independent discovery protocols into a single unified target device register maintained by the target discovery manager. The manager consolidates device information from iSNS, SLP, SendTargets, and static discovery protocols, eliminating duplicates and resolving conflicts. This merging process creates a stable, consistent unified view of all discovered targets, ensuring that the host initiator receives consistent device information regardless of which protocol discovered the device. The complexity of merging is contained within the manager's consolidation logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different discovery protocols to discover different subsets of target devices based on their strengths and appropriate contexts. Rather than using a single uniform approach, the system allows each protocol to operate with its own characteristics and optimize for its specific use case. The target discovery manager then locally processes and prioritizes results from each protocol according to their specific qualities, merging them into the unified register while preserving the advantages of each protocol's discovery approach.
Data Source
AI summary
A target discovery manager associated with a target discovery layer is interposed between a host initiator and one or more discovery protocols. The target discovery manager maintains a list of target devices found by each of several target discovery protocols. For each discovered target device listed, the associated discovery protocols that discovered the target device are prioritized and coalesced into a single enumerated target device register. The target device register provides the host initiator with a single list of known target devices produced from multiple discovery protocols with the discovery protocols that independently discovered each device prioritized according to various parameters.