Validation process for a storage array network

• US 10,484,244 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2015
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Jacoby, Robert B., Boyd, Kenneth Paul, Reyes, Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Assistant Examiner(s): McBeth, William C
• Application Number:
  US14/600,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20160212013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,764 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0869 Validating the configuration within one network element
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0873 Checking configuration conflicts between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0879 Manual configuration through operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A method of validating a storage array network deployment includes receiving information from a user, utilizing the information in a capacity associated with the storage array network, and notifying the user if the utilizing produces an error. The method may further include waiting for user direction before utilizing the information, or waiting until a predetermined amount of information has been received before utilizing the information. The method may further include evaluating one or more formats of the information for suitability for an intended use of the information. The error may be indicated by an abnormal response as a result of utilizing the information.

Claims

1. A method of validating a network deployment, comprising:

by a computer-based information handling system comprising;

a processor; and

a memory with computer code instructions stored thereon, the memory operatively coupled to the processor such that, when executed by the processor, the computer code instructions cause the information handling system to implement;

receiving, from a user, deployment information comprising parameters for a Storage Area Network (SAN) deployment, the deployment information comprising at least (i) default gateway, (ii) domain name server, (iii) network time protocol and (iv) SYSLOG server elements;

in response to having received direction from the user to validate the SAN deployment, utilizing each element of the deployment information received from the user when the element of the deployment information is received, wherein the utilizing does not occur as a batch;

determining, as each element of the deployment information is utilized, a response to the utilization of the element of the deployment information;

notifying the user of an abnormal response to the utilization of the element of the deployment information, the notifying comprising an alert identifying an invalid network configuration;

comparing the received deployment information for the SAN deployment to corresponding deployment information of a currently running SAN;

determining a configuration mismatch exists; and

in response to determining the configuration mismatch exists, notifying the user of the configuration mismatch and providing the user with information that characterizes the configuration mismatch.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein utilizing deployment information received from the user includes applying a server IP address when the server IP address is received.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein utilizing deployment information received from the user includes applying a subnet mask when the subnet mask is received.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein utilizing deployment information received from the user includes applying a default gateway when the default gateway is received.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein utilizing deployment information received from the user includes applying a domain name server address when the domain name server address is received.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein utilizing deployment information received from the user includes applying a network time protocol when the network time protocol is received.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the invalid configuration is a mismatched subnet.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the invalid configuration is an incorrect gateway.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the notifying further includes disclosing one or more aspects of the abnormal response.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium with computer code instruction stored thereon, the computer code instructions, when executed by a processor, cause an apparatus to:

receive, from a user, deployment information comprising parameters for a Storage Area Network (SAN) deployment, the deployment information comprising at least (i) default gateway, (ii) domain name server, (iii) network time protocol and (iv) SYSLOG server elements;

in response to having received direction from the user to validate the SAN deployment, utilize each element of the deployment information received from the user when the element of the deployment information is received, wherein the utilizing does not occur as a batch;

determine, as each element of the deployment information is utilized, a response to the utilization of the element of the deployment information;

notify the user of an abnormal response to the utilization of the element of the deployment information, the notifying comprising an alert identifying an invalid network configuration;

compare the received deployment information for the SAN deployment to corresponding deployment information of a currently running SAN;

determine a configuration mismatch exists; and

in response to determining the configuration mismatch exists, notify the user of the configuration mismatch and provide the user with information that characterizes the configuration mismatch.