Method for verifying a storage area network configuration

• US 20040228290A1
• Filed: 04/28/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Graves, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,817,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/257
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies

Abstract

In one embodiment, a map describing a correct configuration attribute for communicatively coupling a storage area network device with another device is accessed. An actual configuration attribute of the storage area network device is requested. The actual configuration attribute of the storage area network device is then compared to the correct configuration of the storage area network device and a result is generated in response to the comparing.

Claims

1. A method for verifying a storage area network configuration comprising:

accessing a map that describes a correct configuration attribute for communicatively coupling a storage area network device to another device;

requesting an actual configuration attribute from said storage area network device;

comparing said actual configuration attribute with said correct configuration attribute; and

generating a result in response to said comparing.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said storage area network device is a storage area network switch and comprising requesting said actual configuration attribute from said storage area network switch.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising determining the identity of a network device that is coupled with said storage area network switch.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said determining comprises identifying said storage area network switch and said network device using their respective World Wide Name (WWN) addresses.

5. The method as recited in claim 3 further comprising:

identifying a communication portion said storage area network switch; and

identifying a world wide name (WWN) associated with said network device to which said communication port on said storage area network switch is communicatively coupled.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said generating comprises generating a pass message when said actual configuration attribute matches said correct configuration attribute.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said generating comprises automatically generating a fail message when said actual configuration attribute does not match said correct configuration attribute.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said generating further comprises:

generating an instruction describing how to change said actual configuration attribute to make it compliant with said correct configuration attribute.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said accessing, said requesting, said comparing, said generating, and said including are performed automatically.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said storage area network is communicatively coupled with a data center.

11. A data center comprising:

a bus for communicating information;

a processor coupled with said bus for processing said information; and

a computer readable memory coupled with said bus and containing instructions for implementing a method for verifying resource configuration comprising;

accessing a map describing a valid configuration for a storage area network;

receiving an actual configuration attribute from a storage area network device communicatively coupled with said data center;

comparing said actual configuration attribute to a corresponding valid configuration attribute described by said map; and

generating a report describing a result of said comparing.

12. The data center of claim 11, wherein said actual configuration attribute is received from a storage area network switch.

13. The data center of claim 12, wherein said actual configuration attribute describes a second network device that is communicatively coupled with said storage area network switch.

14. The data center of claim 13, wherein said second network device is identified using a unique world wide name (WWN) address.

15. The data center of claim 11, wherein said report comprises a pass message indicating that said actual configuration attribute matches said corresponding valid configuration attribute.

16. The data center of claim 11, wherein said report comprises a fail message indicating that said actual configuration attribute does not match said corresponding valid configuration attribute.

17. The data center of claim 16, wherein said report further comprises an instruction describing how to change said actual configuration attribute to make it compliant with said corresponding valid configuration attribute.

18. The data center of claim 11, wherein said method for verifying resource configuration is performed automatically.

19. A method for verifying a storage area network configuration comprising:

accessing a map that describes a plurality of valid configuration attributes for said storage area network;

receiving an actual configuration attribute from a device described in said map;

comparing said actual configuration attribute with a corresponding valid configuration attribute from said map; and

generating a report detailing a result of said comparing.

20. The method as recited in claim 19 further comprising:

contacting a network switch in said storage area network and receiving said actual configuration attribute from said network switch.

21. The method as recited in claim 20 further comprising:

using said actual configuration attribute to identify a communications port on said network switch; and

using said actual configuration attribute to identify a second device of said storage area network that is communicatively coupled with said communications port.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein said network switch and said second network device are separately identified using a unique world wide name (WWN) address.

23. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein said generating comprises generating a pass message when said actual configuration attribute matches said corresponding valid configuration attribute.

24. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein said generating comprises generating a fail message when said actual configuration attribute does not match said corresponding valid configuration attribute.

25. The method as recited in claim 24 further comprising:

including an instruction in said report describing how to change said actual configuration attribute to make it compliant with said corresponding attribute.

26. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein said storage area network is communicatively coupled with a data center.