Remote Management Device for Storage Server Administrative Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network appliances, such as filers, become inaccessible for remote management and data retrieval when they fail, making it difficult to diagnose and resolve errors, as administrative data is no longer generated, and previously collected data is not readily available for diagnosis.

Innovation Solution

A remote management device is integrated into the appliance, capable of intercepting and storing administrative data even when the appliance is inoperable, and making it remotely accessible through a network, with metadata tagging to distinguish between firmware and operating system-generated data, allowing for selective storage and remote transmission of critical logs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the appliance is integrated with a console port for outputting administrative data, then the appliance can provide real-time status information to local administrative terminals, but the appliance becomes inaccessible for remote management and data retrieval when it fails

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailability of administrative dataVSAvoidremote accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into two independent parts: the main appliance and the remote management device. The remote management device has its own processor and memory, allowing it to operate independently when the appliance fails. This segmentation ensures that administrative data collection and remote access functionality remain available even when the main appliance is inoperable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The remote management device acts as an intermediary between the appliance and remote administrators. It intercepts administrative data from the console port and makes it available through network connections, serving as a mediator that enables remote access without requiring the appliance to be fully operational.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If the appliance outputs administrative data through a console port to local terminals, then real-time monitoring is possible, but previously generated administrative data streams are not readily available for diagnosis when errors occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailability of historical administrative dataVSAvoidtime to access administrative data

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The remote management device continuously collects and stores administrative data in its memory before any error occurs. This preliminary action ensures that when an error happens, the data is already captured and available for immediate analysis, eliminating the need to wait for data generation after the error occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The remote management device creates a copy of the administrative data stream from the console port and stores it in its own memory. This copying mechanism preserves historical data independently of the appliance's operational state, allowing administrators to retrieve past data without requiring the appliance to be currently operational.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple administrative terminals are connected through a terminal concentrator to access administrative data, then remote access is enabled, but the system complexity increases and the appliance remains inaccessible when failed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremote management capabilityVSAvoidmanagement system architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The remote management functionality is extracted from the main appliance and placed into a separate, dedicated remote management device. This extraction simplifies the overall system architecture by isolating the management functions, allowing them to operate independently and reducing the complexity burden on the main appliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS7899680B2Storage of administrative data on a remote management device

Publication Date: 2011.03.01 NETAPP INC

AI summary

According to an embodiment of the invention, a remote management device is integrated into a processing system, such as a filer or other storage server, and the remote management device and administrative data (such as console data) generated by the processing system are accessible even if the processing system becomes inoperable. The processing system includes a console port that outputs administrative data in the form of administrative data during system operation. The remote management device is accessible remotely, for example through a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, or a combination of networks. The remote management device intercepts the administrative data output by the console port and stores the data into memory on the remote management device.