User interface for representing logical path information and displaying available adapters in a storage subsystem

• US 20050188127A1
• Filed: 02/25/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ramandeep, Kaur, Valverde, David V., Therrien, Amy L., Anderson, Dale H., Benhase, Linda V., Wrobel, John E., Burton, Mary C., Morris, Amy N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,350,000 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A user interface facilitates copying data between storage resources, such as servers. A user selects a source storage resource and a target storage resource. Available adapters are displayed through which a path can be established between the selected source and target storage resources. The user selects at least one of the available adapters to configure the path to copy data from the selected source storage resource to the selected target storage resource. The list of available adapters is dynamically updated so that only currently available adapters are displayed. The displayed adapters may be further limited to those that are compatible with a certain path type selected by the user, such as adapters used for a unidirectional or a bi-directional path.

Claims

1. A method for copying data, comprising:

displaying a user interface from which a user selects a source storage resource and a target storage resource; and

displaying available adapters, via the user interface, through which a path can be established between the selected source storage resource and the selected target storage resource;

wherein the user selects at least one of the available adapters, via the user interface, to configure the path to copy data from the selected source storage resource to the selected target storage resource.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the selected source storage resource and the selected target storage resource comprise respective storage servers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the user selects the selected source storage resource by selecting, via the user interface, a source storage server and an associated logical subsystem.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the user selects the selected target storage resource by selecting, via the user interface, a target storage server and an associated logical subsystem.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the user selects a path type, via the user interface, from among a plurality of different path types; and

the displaying available adapters comprises displaying available adapters whose type is compatible with the selected path type.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the plurality of different path types include unidirectional and bi-directional path types.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the path comprises a switched path, wherein at least one switch is provided between the selected source storage resource and the selected target storage resource; and

the user selects an outgoing port of the at least one switch, via the user interface, to configure the path.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the path comprises a switched path, wherein at least one switch is provided between the selected source storage resource and the selected target storage resource;

the available adapters include target adapters that are associated with the selected target storage resource; and

the user selects at least one of the target adapters to configure the path.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the configured path comprises a direct connection between the selected source storage resource and the selected target storage resource.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying dynamically-updated status information, via the user interface, regarding the configured path.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a wizard, via the user interface, for guiding the user in selecting the selected source storage resource, the selected target storage resource, and the at least one of the available adapters.

12. A program storage device tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform a method for copying data, the method comprising:

displaying a user interface from which a user selects a source storage resource and a target storage resource; and

displaying available adapters, via the user interface, through which a path can be established between the selected source storage resource and the selected target storage resource;

wherein the user selects at least one of the available adapters, via the user interface, to configure the path to copy data from the selected source storage resource to the selected target storage resource.

13. The program storage device of claim 12, wherein:

the user selects a path type, via the user interface, from among a plurality of different path types; and

the displaying available adapters comprises displaying available adapters whose type is compatible with the selected path type.

14. The program storage device of claim 12, wherein:

the path comprises a switched path, wherein at least one switch is provided between the selected source storage resource and the selected target storage resource;

the available adapters include target adapters that are associated with the selected target storage resource; and

the user selects at least one of the target adapters to configure the path.

15. The program storage device of claim 12, wherein the method further includes:

displaying dynamically-updated status information, via the user interface, regarding the configured path.

16. An apparatus for copying data, comprising:

means for displaying a user interface from which a user selects a source storage resource and a target storage resource; and

means for displaying available adapters, via the user interface, through which a path can be established between the selected source storage resource and the selected target storage resource;

wherein the user selects at least one of the available adapters, via the user interface, to configure the path to copy data from the selected source storage resource to the selected target storage resource.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the user selects a path type, via the user interface, from among a plurality of different path types; and

the means for displaying available adapters displays available adapters whose type is compatible with the selected path type.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the path comprises a switched path, wherein at least one switch is provided between the selected source storage resource and the selected target storage resource;

the available adapters include target adapters that are associated with the selected target storage resource; and

the user selects at least one of the target adapters to configure the path.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

means for displaying dynamically-updated status information, via the user interface, regarding the configured path.