Network calculator system and management device

• US 20040073648A1
• Filed: 08/20/2003
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Iwatani, Sawao, Tanino, Shingo
• Application Number:
  US10/644,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20040073648A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0663 Performing the actions predefined by failover planning, e.g. switching to standby network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity

Abstract

A management device creates transmission path connection information from device information which it collects from individual devices. If the management device is notified of a faulty device from a managed device, it identify a transmission path containing the faulty device and causes the server, which accesses data stored in the storage through the transmission path, to stop using the transmission path. To deal with devices not having the failure notice function, the management device can cause individual devices to present device information on a regular basis and detect a faulty device from the received device information. When the transmission path is restored to proper working condition, the management device is notified of the restored path and automatically causes to the server to start using that transmission path. Note that the functions performed by the management device can also be provided as programs.

Claims

1. A network calculator system comprising:

a server connected to a network;

a storage connected to the network and to the server through a plurality of transmission paths; and

a management device connected to the network for recording a correspondence between the transmission paths and devices included in the transmission paths,

wherein if a device fails, which is included in the transmission path through which the server accesses data stored in the storage, the server or the storage notifies the management device of the faulty device, and said management device judges whether the notified faulty device is included in another transmission path, and if the notified faulty device is included in another transmission path, said management device determines the transmission path through which the server accesses data stored in the storage and also the another transmission path as being unavailable and causes the server to stop using the unavailable transmission paths when the server accesses the storage.

2. A network calculator system according to claim 1 further comprising a fiber channel switch connected to the network, the server and the storage for notifying of a faulty device included in the fiber channel switch,

wherein the fiber channel switch is included in the transmission paths.

3. A network calculator system comprising:

a server connected to a network for managing its own device information and returning the device information in reply to a request;

a storage connected to the network and to the server by a plurality of transmission paths for managing its own device information and returning the device information in reply to a request; and

a management device connected to the network for managing device information on the server and the storage,

wherein said management device records a correspondence between transmission paths through which the server accesses data stored in the storage and devices included in the transmission paths, and makes the request to the server and the storage for the device information on a regular basis, and judges from the returned device information whether there is any faulty device, and determines transmission paths which include the faulty device as being unavailable, and causes the server, which accesses through the transmission paths when an application program is executed, to stop using the unavailable transmission paths.

4. A network calculator system according to claim 3 further comprising a fiber channel switch connected to the network, the server and the storage for managing its own device information and returning the device information in reply to a request,

wherein the management device makes the request to the fiber channel switch for the device information on a regular basis.

5. A network calculator system comprising:

a server connected to a network;

a storage connected to the network and to the server by a plurality of transmission paths; and

a management device connected to the network for recording a correspondence between transmission paths and devices included in the transmission paths,

wherein if a device is restored, which is included in the transmission path through which the server accesses data stored in the storage, the server or the storage notifies the management device of the restored device, and said management device judges whether the restored device is included in another transmission path, and if the restored device is included in another transmission path, said management device determines the transmission path through which the server accesses data stored in the storage and also the another transmission path as being available, and causes the server, which accesses through the transmission paths when an application program is executed, to start using the transmission paths.

6. A network calculator system according to claim 5 further comprising a fiber channel switch connected to the network, the server and the storage for notifying of restoration of a faulty device included in the fiber channel switch,

wherein the transmission paths include the fiber channel switch.

7. A network calculator system comprising:

a server connected to a network for managing its own device information and returning the device information in reply to a request;

a storage connected to the network and to the server by a plurality of transmission paths for managing its own device information, and returning the device information in reply to a request; and

a management device connected to the network for managing device information on the server and the storage,

wherein said management device records a correspondence between transmission paths through which the server accesses data stored in the storage and devices included in the transmission paths, and makes the request to the server and the storage for the device information on a regular basis, and stores the returned device information, and judges whether a device status changes from abnormal condition to normal condition, and if a device status changes from abnormal condition to normal condition, said management device determines transmission paths as being available, which include the device of which status changes from abnormal condition to normal condition, and causes the server, which accesses through the transmission paths when an application program is executed, to start using the transmission paths.

8. A network calculator system according to claim 7 further comprising a fiber channel switch connected to the network, the server and the storage for managing its own device information and returning the device information in reply to a request,

wherein the management device makes the request to the fiber channel switch for the device information on a regular basis.

9. A management method in a management device, provided in a network calculator system having a server and a storage, wherein each of which is connected to a network, wherein the server and the storage are connected to each other by a plurality of the transmission paths, and wherein each of which notifies of a faulty device included in the transmission paths through which the server accesses data stored in the storage, said management method comprising:

managing the server and storage device information;

receiving a notification of a faulty device from the server or storage;

recording a correspondence between transmission paths through which the server accesses data stored in the storage and devices included in the transmission paths;

determining a transmission path as being unavailable if the notified faulty device is included in the transmission paths; and

causing the server, which accesses through the unavailable transmission path, to stop using that transmission path when the server accesses the storage.

10. A management method in a management device, provided in a network calculator system having a server and a storage, wherein each of which is connected to a network, wherein the server and the storage are connected to each other by a plurality of the transmission paths, and wherein each of which notifies of a faulty device included in the transmission paths through which the server accesses data stored in the storage, said management method comprising:

managing the server and storage device information;

receiving a notification of a failure device from the server or storage;

recording a correspondence between transmission paths through which the server accesses data stored in the storage and devices included by the transmission paths;

requesting for the device information to the server and the storage on a regular basis;

storing the returned device information;

judging whether a device status changes from abnormal condition to normal condition;

determining a transmission path as being available if the transmission path include the device of which status changes from abnormal condition to normal condition; and

causing the server, which accesses through the transmission paths when an application program is executed, to start using the transmission paths.