Logical unit mapping in a storage area network (SAN) environment

• US 20020029319A1
• Filed: 06/06/2001
• Published: 03/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jerry Smith, Richard Meyer, Robert Robbins
• Original Assignee: Jerry Smith, Richard Meyer, Robert Robbins
• Inventors: Smith, Jerry, Meyer, Richard, Robbins, Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/876,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20020029319A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/114
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1483 using an access-table, e.g. matrix or list
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/062 Securing storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0637 Permissions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A system with a RAID controller connected to a plurality of hosts, and having a storage area configurable as a plurality of logical units. The RAID controller stores in an associated memory a table of access rights for the hosts to the logical units. Updates can be provided and additional material can be provided in new memory space that is subsequently made available to the various hosts by providing updated access rights that include the new space. In one embodiment, the present invention also maps the logical unit number from that requested by the host to an actual number used in the RAID subsystem.

Claims

1. A memory storage system comprising:

a RAID controller configured to connect to a plurality of hosts;

a storage area configurable as a plurality of logical units; and

a memory, connected to said RAID controller, for storing access rights of said hosts to said logical units.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said RAID controller is configured to dynamically change said access rights in said memory.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said memory stores default access rights granting no access.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a fibre channel network connecting said memory storage system to said plurality of hosts.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said memory further stores a remapping of logical units, so that multiple hosts can access said memory storage system specifying an identical logical unit, and be directed to different logical units.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a table in said memory, said table storing both said access rights and a mapping to translated logical units.

6. The system of claim I wherein a grouping of memory storage corresponding to logical units assigned to a particular host is transparent to said particular host.

8. A memory storage system comprising:

a RAID controller configured to connect to a plurality of hosts;

a storage area configurable as a plurality of logical units; and

a memory, connected to said RAID controller, for storing access rights of said hosts to said logical units;

said RAID controller being configured to dynamically change said access rights in said memory;

said memory storing default access rights granting no access; and

said memory further storing a remapping of logical units, so that multiple hosts can access said memory storage system specifying an identical logical unit, and be directed to different logical units.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a fibre channel network connecting said memory storage system to said plurality of hosts.

10. A method for operating a memory storage system comprising:

connecting a RAID controller to a plurality of hosts;

said RAID controller being connected to a storage area configurable as a plurality of logical units; and

storing access rights of said hosts to said logical units.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising dynamically altering said access rights.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said dynamically altering comprises adding access rights to a particular host without affecting existing access rights of said particular host.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising storing a default of no access rights prior to granting access rights to a host.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising reserving a designated plurality of logical units for future hosts to be added, and not granting existing hosts access to said designated plurality of logical units.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising reserving a designated plurality of logical units for future hosts to be added, and not granting existing hosts access to said designated plurality of logical units.

15. A method for operating a memory storage system comprising:

connecting a RAID controller to a plurality of hosts;

said RAID controller being connected to a storage area configurable as a plurality of logical units;

storing access rights of said hosts to said logical units;

dynamically altering said access rights, wherein said dynamically altering comprises adding access rights to a particular host without affecting existing access rights of said particular host; and

storing a default of no access rights prior to granting access rights to a host.