Storage area network monitor device and networked monitor system
First Claim
1. A networked monitor system for a storage area network (SAN), comprising:
- a plurality of SAN monitor devices each being connected to the SAN and to a communications network, each monitor device being operable to issue commands to, transmit data to, and/or receive data from the SAN; and
a master connected to the communications network and communicating with the monitor devices.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A storage area network (SAN) monitor device and a networked configuration for monitoring the SAN. Application in Fibre Channel is described as an example. In the networked configuration, a plurality of Fibre Channel probe devices are inserted into the fabric at desired links, and the probe devices are connected to each other and to a master via a communications network such as an Ethernet. The probe devices operate in a snoop mode to gather information from the Fibre Channel, and transmit gather information via the communications network to the master for further processing or display. The tasks performed by the probe devices include monitoring performance, health and traffic of the fabric; analyzing specific transfers by capturing all the data; generating traffic to test specific links, etc. The probe devices may be programmable devices so that tasks may be dynamically programmed by the master via the communications network. One probe device described herein comprises a Fibre Channel interface and a programmable logic block connected to the Fibre Channel interface. Also described is a probe attachment module that can be attached to an existing switch on the Fibre Channel to monitor a plurality of Fibre Channel devices connected to the switch.
56 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A networked monitor system for a storage area network (SAN), comprising:
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a plurality of SAN monitor devices each being connected to the SAN and to a communications network, each monitor device being operable to issue commands to, transmit data to, and/or receive data from the SAN; and
a master connected to the communications network and communicating with the monitor devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A monitor for a storage area network (SAN), comprising:
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an SAN interface for communicating with the SAN; and
a programmable logic block connected to the SAN interface and adapted to be connected to a communications network. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A monitor attachment module for a storage area network (SAN), the SAN including a plurality of SAN devices to be monitored and a switch having a plurality of ports for connecting to SAN devices, the monitor attachment module comprising:
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a plurality of first ports each adapted to be connected to a port of the switch;
a plurality of second ports each adapted to be connected to a SAN device, each second port being connected to a corresponding first port;
at least one SAN monitor adapted to be connected to a communications network; and
at least one multiplexer, each multiplexer being connected to a corresponding monitor for selectively connecting the monitor to one or more second ports. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18)
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17. A method of monitoring a storage area network (SAN), comprising:
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gathering information about the SAN using a plurality of monitor devices connected to the SAN;
communicating the gathered information to a master via a communications network; and
processing the communicated information using the master.
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Specification