Setting information holding storage system

• US 20060007491A1
• Filed: 09/02/2004
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Akagawa, Etsutaro, Kanda, Akitsugu
• Granted Patent: US 7,242,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.160
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0879 Manual configuration through operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A storage system connected to a network is provided which is capable of managing other devices connected to the network. A storage system (400) is connected via a switch (200) to a network (500) to provide clients (100) with data. The storage system has a control unit which sets the switch (200) and a setting command preserving unit which keeps a command for setting the switch (200). The control unit uses the preserved command to set the switch (200).

Claims

1. A storage system coupled to a network to provide a client with data, comprising:

a control unit that sets other devices coupled to the network; and

a setting command storing unit that stores a command for setting the other devices,

wherein the control unit uses the preserved command in setting the other devices.

2. A storage system coupled to a network via a switch to provide a client with data, comprising:

a control unit that sets the switch; and

a setting command storing unit that stores a command for setting the switch,

wherein the control unit uses the preserved command in setting the switch.

3. The storage system according to claim 2, further comprising a pairing information storing unit that stores pairing between a port of the switch and a port of the storage system that is to be coupled to the port of the switch,

wherein the control unit:

obtains information about the port of the switch from the pairing information storing unit; and

uses the preserved command to set the switch through the port.

4. The storage system according to claim 3,

wherein an management terminal is coupled to the network, wherein

the management terminal designates pairing between a port of the switch and a port of the storage system that is to be coupled to the port of the switch, and

the pairing information storing unit stores the pairing designated.

5. The storage system according to claim 3, wherein the pairing information storing unit obtains information about pairing between a port of the switch and a port of the storage system that is coupled to the port of the switch, and stores the obtained paring information.

6. The storage system according to claim 3,

wherein setting of the switch is VLAN setting, and

wherein the control unit uses the stored command to set the switch to VLAN setting.

7. The storage system according to claim 3,

wherein setting of the switch is setting for integrating at least two ports of the switch as one link, and

wherein the control unit uses the stored command to set the switch to port integrating setting.

8. A storage system coupled to a network via a switch to provide a client with data, the network further having a file server coupled thereto, the storage system comprising:

a control unit that obtains information of the file server; and

a setting command storing unit that stores a command for obtaining information of the file server,

wherein the control unit;

uses the stored command to obtain information of the file server; and

provides, based on the information obtained, the client with the file held in the file server.

9. The storage system according to claim 8, wherein the information obtained contains at least one selected from the group consisting of a host name of the file server, an IP address of the file server, a name of a shared directory, information about to where a file is disclosed, and a file sharing protocol.

10. The storage system according to claim 8, wherein the control unit:

obtains a file held in the file server;

stores the obtained file; and

provides the client with the stored file based on the information obtained.

11. The storage system according to claim 8, wherein the control unit:

uses the stored command to obtain information of the file server; and

creates, based on the information obtained, a virtual file server that provides the client with a file held in the file server.

12. The storage system according to claim 11, wherein the control unit creates, based on the information obtained, for each file server, a virtual file server that provides the client with a file held in the file server.

13. A storage system coupled to a network via a switch to provide a client with data, the network further having a file server and an management terminal coupled thereto, the storage system comprising:

a control unit that obtains information of the file server; and

a setting command storing unit that stores a command for fetching information of the file server,

wherein the control unit;

uses the stored command to obtain information of the file server upon request from the management terminal;

creates, based on the information obtained, a virtual file server that provides a client with a file held in the file server,

obtains a file held in the file server to store the obtained file;

shuts down the file server;

activates the virtual file server; and

provides, through the activated virtual file server, the client with the file stored.