Network attached storage SNMP single system image

• US 20030212777A1
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chellam, Sudhakar V., Kandefer, Florian K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,451,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus for a management station to manage a node cluster in a computer network. Regardless which node in the node cluster receives a management command from the management station to the master node, the management command is sent to the master node. The master node prepares a command response and sends the response back to the original node that received the management command. The original node, in turn, forwards the command response to the management station. The invention utilizes management agents executing on a master node and servant nodes to create and process the command response.

Claims

1. A method for a management station to manage a node cluster in a computer network, the node cluster including a plurality of servant nodes, a target node and a master node, the method comprising:

receiving a management command from the management station through the network by the target node;

sending the management command to the master node from the target node;

processing a management response to the management command by the master node;

sending the management response to the target node from the master node; and

sending the management response to the management station by the target node;

2. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the management response further comprises determining the scope of the management command.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein processing the management response further comprises polling the servant nodes for data required by the management command.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the management response further comprises formatting the management response to the protocol expected by the management station.

5. A management agent for processing management commands from a management station, the management agent being suitable for execution in a node cluster, where the node cluster includes a plurality of node members, the node members including a master node and a target node, the management agent comprising:

a receiving module configured to receive management data requested from the node members, the receiving module being further configured to communicate management commands from the target node to the master node; and

a sending module configured to send management data from the node members, the sending module being further configured to communicate a command response from the master node to the target node.

6. The management agent of claim 5, further comprising an information processor configured to format the command response in a manner expected by the management station.

7. The management agent of claim 5, further comprising a local access module configured to obtain local node data.

8. The management agent of claim 5, further comprising a remote access module configured to obtain node data from another node member.

9. The management agent of claim 5, further comprising a common interface configured to interact with software executed by the node members.

10. A system for processing a management command issued from a management station, the system comprising:

a node cluster, the node cluster including a plurality of servant nodes and a master node;

a target node belonging to the node cluster, wherein the target node receives the management command issued from the management station;

a master management agent executing on the master node, the master management agent configured to process the management command and send a command response to the target node; and

a target management agent executing on the target node, the target management agent configured to forward the management command to the master node and send the command response to the management station.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the node cluster further comprises a local network connecting the servant nodes with the master node.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the master management agent further comprises:

a receiving module configured to receive the management command from the target node; and

a sending module configured to send the command response from the master node to the target node.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the master management agent includes an information processor configured to format the command response in a manner expected by the management station.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the master management agent includes a local access module configured to obtain node data from the master node.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the master management agent includes a remote access module configured to obtain node data from the servant nodes.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the master management agent includes a common interface configured to interact with software executed on the master node.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the target management agent further comprises:

a receiving module configured to receive the management command from the management station and the command response from the master node; and

a sending module configured to send the management command to the master node and the command response to the management station.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the target management agent includes a local access module configured to obtain node data from the target node.

19. A computer program product embodied in a tangible media comprising:

computer readable program codes coupled to the tangible media for managing a node cluster in a computer network by a management station, the node cluster including a plurality of servant nodes, a target node and a master node, the computer readable program codes comprising;

first computer readable program code configured to cause the program to receive a management command from the management station through the network by the target node;

second computer readable program code configured to cause the program to send the management command to the master node from the target node;

third computer readable program code configured to cause the program to process a management response to the management command by the master node;

fourth computer readable program code configured to cause the program to send the management response to the target node from the master node; and

fifth computer readable program code configured to cause the program to send the management response to the management station by the target node.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising sixth computer readable program code configured to cause the program to determine the scope of the management command.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising sixth computer readable program code configured to cause the program to poll the servant nodes for data required by the management command.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising sixth computer readable program code configured to cause the program format the management response to the protocol expected by the management station.