Storage Area Network Agent Assignment for Vendor Protocol Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional network management applications for storage area networks face inefficiencies due to the need to learn and manage various communication protocols for different vendor types of switch devices, requiring direct communication and coordination, which is complex and resource-intensive.

Innovation Solution

The approach involves offloading management functions to multiple agents distributed within the storage area network, where a management control center identifies and assigns specific agents to handle exclusive sets of management tasks based on their capabilities, reducing the need for direct communication with multiple vendors and optimizing resource allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a centralized management system directly communicates with multiple vendor types of switch devices, then the system can control all devices, but the complexity of learning and maintaining multiple communication protocols increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to communicate with different vendor devicesVSAvoidcomplexity of managing multiple communication protocols

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces agents as intermediary components that reside on or near the switch devices. These agents handle the complex protocol-specific communication with their respective vendor devices, while the centralized management system interacts with the agents through a simplified, unified interface. This mediator approach allows the management system to remain protocol-agnostic while still controlling diverse vendor devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The management function is segmented into multiple independent agents distributed throughout the network. Each agent is responsible for managing specific vendor devices and protocols locally, rather than requiring the centralized system to handle all protocols centrally. This segmentation distributes the complexity across multiple specialized components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If a centralized management system maintains direct communication interfaces for all vendor protocols, then all devices can be controlled, but the resource consumption and coordination burden on the management system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanagement efficiencyVSAvoidresource consumption of management system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

Agents act as intermediaries that perform protocol translation and device management tasks locally. The centralized management system sends high-level commands to agents, which then handle the resource-intensive protocol-specific operations. This significantly reduces the computational and resource burden on the centralized system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The agents perform self-management functions by autonomously handling protocol communication with their local devices. They independently manage device monitoring, configuration, and control operations, reducing the need for continuous centralized coordination and resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If multiple agents are assigned to handle different management functions, then the management control center is relieved of coordination complexity, but the system requires capability discovery and assignment mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of managing diverse devicesVSAvoidcomplexity of agent capability management

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary capability discovery during agent registration or initialization. Each agent announces its supported protocols and device types to the management system in advance. This pre-information gathering eliminates the need for real-time capability negotiation and simplifies subsequent device assignment operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The management system uses feedback mechanisms to learn about agent capabilities and device statuses. Agents report their capabilities and device states back to the management system, enabling intelligent assignment decisions. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt to changing conditions and optimize resource allocation dynamically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS7469284B1Methods and apparatus for assigning management responsibilities to multiple agents

Publication Date: 2008.12.23 EMC IP HLDG CO LLC

AI summary

A management control center identifies multiple remotely located agents and their corresponding abilities to manage devices in a storage area network on behalf of the management control center. In response to learning capabilities of the multiple agents, the management control center assigns a first agent of multiple agents in the storage area network to handle execution of a first set of management functions associated with a given device in the storage area network. Additionally, the management control center assigns a second agent of multiple agents in the storage area network to handle execution of a second set of management functions associated with the given device. This technique of assigning multiple agents (rather than a single agent) different management functions alleviates a management control center from having to coordinate direct communications with and control many different types of vendor devices in the storage area network.