System and method for storage network management

• US 20030233427A1
• Filed: 05/29/2002
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Taguchi, Yuichi
• Application Number:
  US10/158,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20030233427A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/024 using relational databases for representation of network management data, e.g. managing via structured query language [SQL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies

Abstract

A system for storage network management comprises: a local SAN manager client capable to receive SAN topology data from a local SAN manager; an IP network manager client capable to receive IP network topology data from an IP network manager; a database capable to store unified data structures; and a database management engine, communicatively coupled to the local SAN manager client, IP network manager client, and database, capable to convert received SAN topology data and received IP network topology data into unified data structures, the database management engine further capable to store the unified data structures in the database.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving SAN topology data;

receiving IP network topology data;

converting the SAN topology data and IP network topology into unified data structures; and

storing the unified data structures in a database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the unified data structures include hierarchical data.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying at least one of the unified data structures from a hierarchical level in a graphical format.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the SAN topology data is received from a local SAN manager.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the IP network topology is received from an IP network manager.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the unified data structures include zoning information.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising displaying the unified data structures by zone in a graphical format.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying at least one unified data structure corresponding to at least one device that is accessible both physically and logically from a target device.

9. A computer-readable medium storing instructions to cause a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving SAN topology data;

receiving IP network topology data;

converting the SAN topology data and IP network topology into unified data structures; and

storing the unified data structures in a database.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the unified data structures include hierarchical data.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises displaying at least one of the unified data structures from a hierarchical level in a graphical format.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the SAN topology data is received from a local SAN manager.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the IP network topology is received from an IP network manager.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the unified data structures include zoning information.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises displaying the unified data structures by zone in a graphical format.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises displaying at least one unified data structure corresponding to at least one device that is accessible both physically and logically from a target device.

17. A system, comprising:

means for receiving SAN topology data;

means for receiving IP network topology data;

means for converting the SAN topology data and IP network topology into unified data structures;

means for storing the unified data structures in a database; and

means for displaying the unified data structures in a graphical format.

18. A system, comprising:

a local SAN manager client capable to receive SAN topology data from a local SAN manager;

an IP network manager client capable to receive IP network topology data from an IP network manager;

a database capable to store unified data structures; and

a database management engine, communicatively coupled to the local SAN manager client, IP network manager client, and database, capable to convert received SAN topology data and received IP network topology data into unified data structures, the database management engine further capable to store the unified data structures in the database.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the unified data structures include hierarchical data.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the unified data structures include zoning data.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a GUI capable to display at least one unified data structure from a zone in a graphical format.

23. The system of claim 18, further comprising a GUI capable to display at least one unified data structure corresponding to at least one device that is accessible both physically and logically from a target device.

20. The system of claim 20, further comprising a GUI capable to display at least one unified data structure from a hierarchical level in a graphical format.

24. A method of viewing topology of both of a Storage Area Network (SAN) and an Internet Protocol (IP) network, the method comprising the steps of:

viewing Internet Protocol (IP) subnet segments on a screen; and

when a subnet on the screen is selected, viewing zones provided by a switch which is in the SAN and in the selected IP subnet segment.

25. A topology viewer for both of a Storage Area Network (SAN) and Internet Protocol (IP) network, comprising:

means for viewing Internet Protocol (IP) subnet segments on a screen; and

when a subnet on the screen is selected, means for viewing zones provided by a switch which is in the SAN and in the selected IP subnet segment.