Unified system and method for downloading code to heterogeneous devices in distributed storage area networks
First Claim
1. A method for updating a software module in a plurality of devices in a storage network, comprising:
- discovering and generating a list of devices in a storage network;
determining the topology of the storage network;
receiving a request to update software of a plurality of devices, wherein the request includes a file comprising a software module and a data header, the data header including a list of valid devices in which the firmware may be used;
authenticating the request;
validating the list of devices with the firmware;
authenticating to the devices identified in the request;
transferring the file to at least one agent responsible for managing at least one of the devices; and
instructing the at least one agent to update the software module in the plurality of devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for downloading software to a plurality of devices in a storage network. A command processor receives commands from an external source to download a software module to a plurality of devices matching a predefined set of criteria. A device selector module receives a command from the command processor and selects devices that satisfy the criteria in the command. A coordinator module coordinates code load for the software module to be downloaded, and a multivendor device download module initiates a software download to a plurality of devices in the network after authentication. The system may implement multiple techniques to discover various devices in a Storage Area Network (SAN), and may perform path and load-based distributed parallel schedulable code load to heterogeneous devices in the storage area network using a unified vendor device independent code load interface. The code load process may utilize host agents that are constructed using a layered architecture.
135 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for updating a software module in a plurality of devices in a storage network, comprising:
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discovering and generating a list of devices in a storage network;
determining the topology of the storage network;
receiving a request to update software of a plurality of devices, wherein the request includes a file comprising a software module and a data header, the data header including a list of valid devices in which the firmware may be used;
authenticating the request;
validating the list of devices with the firmware;
authenticating to the devices identified in the request;
transferring the file to at least one agent responsible for managing at least one of the devices; and
instructing the at least one agent to update the software module in the plurality of devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for downloading code to a plurality of devices in a storage network, comprising:
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a command processor for receiving a command from an external source to download a software module to a plurality of devices matching a predefined set of criteria;
a storage medium for storing information about devices in the storage network and the topology of the storage network, the information including at least an identifier associated with the device and a path from the system to the device;
a device selector module for receiving a command from the command processor and selecting devices from the storage medium that satisfy the predefined criteria;
a coordinator module for distributing software modules and coordinating the distributed parallel code load process; and
a multivendor device download module for initiating the software download to the plurality of devices in the network. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification