Virtual Port Pathway Auto-Discovery for Storage Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems require complex pre-definition of physical device connections for pathway redundancy, making it difficult to automatically switch to an optimal path in case of failure.
Innovation Solution
A computer system with a storage apparatus that uses relay apparatus information and virtual ports to automatically select and switch to a normal or alternative path between an initiator and a target device, eliminating the need for pre-defined configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical ports are grouped in advance to provide pathway redundancy, then continued access is ensured in case of failure, but the operation becomes complex requiring pre-definition of physical device connections
Solution Approach 1:
The storage apparatus automatically gathers pathway information by monitoring communications between relay apparatuses and initiator apparatuses, and autonomously creates virtual ports with associated pathways without requiring manual pre-definition. The system serves itself by automatically detecting and recording path information through its own operational communications.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage apparatus uses feedback from actual communications to automatically update pathway information. When communications are established between relay apparatuses and initiator apparatuses, the storage apparatus records this information and creates corresponding virtual ports, allowing the system to adapt and update its pathway knowledge based on real-time operational feedback.
2Extent of automation
If pre-defined configuration information is used for pathway redundancy, then path switching can be performed, but the configuration becomes complex and difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The storage apparatus performs self-configuration by automatically gathering pathway information from actual communications. It monitors and records communications between relay apparatuses and initiator apparatuses, then creates virtual ports with associated pathways without external configuration intervention, eliminating the need for complex pre-defined configuration files.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage apparatus performs preliminary actions by proactively monitoring and recording pathway information as communications are established. It creates virtual ports and associates pathways in advance based on observed communications, so that when failures occur, the pathway information is already gathered and ready for automatic switching without requiring pre-defined configurations.
3Ease of operation
If automatic pathway information gathering is implemented, then pre-defined configurations are eliminated, but communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage apparatus leverages existing communication feedback to gather pathway information. By monitoring communications that already occur during normal storage operations between relay apparatuses and initiator apparatuses, the system extracts pathway information without requiring separate dedicated communication protocols or additional significant overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication mechanism serves multiple functions: it performs data transfer during normal operations and simultaneously gathers pathway information for redundancy purposes. The same communication infrastructure and protocols are used for both data transmission and pathway information collection, eliminating the need for separate dedicated communication channels.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer system has a storage system including a first port and a second port, and a relay apparatus which couples the first port to an initiator apparatus. The storage apparatus stores relay apparatus information indicating a relay apparatus, and initiator information indicating an initiator apparatus. The storage apparatus establishes communications between the first port and a first relay apparatus, and based on communications with the relay apparatus recognizes the initiator apparatus with which the first relay apparatus has established communications. The storage apparatus also stores, in pathway information, a first pathway containing the first port, the first relay apparatus and the initiator apparatus. The storage apparatus creates a virtual port, which is a virtual port to which the first port is allocated, and when an initiator apparatus establishes communications with the virtual port, this apparatus adds a first virtual port associated pathway, in which the virtual port is associated with the first pathway, to the pathway information.