Logical Volume Display on Storage Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
In modern computer systems, operators face difficulties in quickly identifying and addressing failed or malfunctioning physical devices within a network or storage system, as they are only provided with logical information, making it tedious to determine which physical device needs attention.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that includes a logical volume information server coupled with a volume manager to provide logical information to devices, allowing a logical volume information client to display this information on network or storage devices, enabling operators to identify specific physical devices based on logical information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If virtualization is used to assign logical identification to devices, then system flexibility and device accessibility are improved, but device identification complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy of the logical information (LUN) displayed on the physical device itself. The display device shows the LUN that corresponds to the physical device, creating a direct visual link between logical and physical identification without requiring operators to perform complex mapping operations.
2Reliability
If only logical information is provided to operators, then system security and abstraction are improved, but device troubleshooting time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares the physical device in advance by equipping it with a display device that shows the logical information (LUN) before any failure occurs. When a device failure happens, the operator can immediately see the LUN on the device itself, eliminating the time-consuming process of matching logical information to physical devices after failure.
3Productivity
If logical information is displayed on physical devices, then operator efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display device on the physical device serves multiple functions: it displays the logical information (LUN) for identification purposes, and can potentially display other operational status information. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing multiple benefits from a single added component.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for displaying logical information upon devices within a computer system. The method and apparatus include a logical volume information server coupled to a volume manager that provides the logical information that is created by the volume manager to at least one device. The at least one device comprise a logical volume information client that receives the logical information from the logical volume information server and displays that logical volume information upon the network or storage device. In this manner, an operator may quickly identify the logical information that corresponds to a physical device within a network or a storage appliance.