Storage configuration loader

• US 20060112173A1
• Filed: 11/08/2004
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cohn, Jeremy Andrew, Jennas, Paul Anthony II, Wright, Bryan John, Gellai, Andrew Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,480,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0632 by initialisation or re-initialisation of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

Disclosed are a system, a method, and article of manufacture to configure information storage and retrieval systems. A configuration loader receives configuration commands from a configuration loader user interface. Upon receipt of configuration commands, the configuration loader transfers storage controller configurations from information storage and retrieval system configuration sources to target information storage and retrieval systems. Threading technology is used to apply a thread manager for managing threads to accomplish the configuration transfers. Multiple physical and/or logical configurations may be transferred simultaneously using the threading technology.

Claims

1. A method to configure information storage and retrieval systems, comprising:

providing a configuration loader user interface for accepting configuration commands; and

providing a configuration loader capable of communicating with said configuration loader user interface, with at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source and with at least one target information storage and retrieval system, said configuration loader comprising a configuration loader module for applying said at least one configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system;

operative to said configuration loader receiving a command from said configuration loader user interface to configure said at least one target information storage and retrieval system using said at least one configuration source;

said configuration loader module applying said configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source; and

providing said at least one target information storage and retrieval system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing a configuration loader further comprises:

operative to a completion of said application of said at least one configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system, said configuration loader communicating to said configuration loader user interface said completion of said application of said at least one configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of said configuration loader module applying said at least one configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system further comprises the steps of:

applying a thread manager for managing at least one thread, wherein said at least one thread executes the steps of;

determining a physical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source;

determining a physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system;

operative to a compatibility between said physical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source and said physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system;

determining a logical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source;

determining a logical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system; and

configuring said logical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system to be the same as said logical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

operative to an incompatibility between said physical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source and said physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system;

configuring said physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system to be the same as said physical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source;

determining a logical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source;

determining a logical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system; and

configuring said logical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system to be the same as said logical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a client computer system for operation of said configuration loader user interface; and

providing a server computer system in communication with said client computer system, for operation of said configuration loader.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using an online storage controller as said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using an offline storage controller as said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using an online storage controller as said at least one target information storage and retrieval system.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using an offline storage controller as said at least one target information storage and retrieval system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of said configuration loader module applying said at least one configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system comprises a partial configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of said configuration loader module applying said at least one configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system further comprises the steps of:

executing a task list of configuration actions, wherein said task list is persistently maintained in an offline configuration database.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing a configuration loader further comprises:

operative to a completion of said application of said at least one configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system, said configuration loader communicating the status of one or more configuration transfers to said configuration loader user interface.

14. A system to configure information storage and retrieval systems, comprising:

a configuration loader user interface for accepting configuration commands;

at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source;

at least one target information storage and retrieval system; and

a configuration loader capable of communicating with said configuration loader user interface, with said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source and with said at least one target information storage and retrieval system, said configuration loader comprising a configuration loader module for applying said at least one configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system.

15. The system of claim 14, where said configuration loader is adapted to execute steps comprising:

operative to said configuration loader receiving a command from said configuration loader user interface to configure said at least one target information storage and retrieval system using said at least one configuration source;

said configuration loader module applying said configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system.

16. The system of claim 15, where said configuration loader is adapted to execute steps further comprising:

operative to a completion of said application of said at least one configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system, said configuration loader communicating to said configuration loader user interface said completion of said application of said at least one configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a thread manager for managing at least one thread, wherein said step of said configuration loader module applying said configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system is accomplished by said at least one thread executing the steps of:

determining a physical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source;

determining a physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system;

operative to a compatibility between said physical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source and said physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system;

determining a logical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source;

determining a logical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system; and

configuring said logical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system to be the same as said logical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one thread executes the further steps of:

operative to an incompatibility between said physical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source and said physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system;

configuring said physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system to be the same as said physical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source;

determining a logical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source;

determining a logical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system; and

configuring said logical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system to be the same as said logical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a client computer system for operation of said configuration loader user interface; and

a server computer system in communication with said client computer system for operation of said configuration loader.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

an online storage controller for use as said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source.

21. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

an offline storage controller for use as said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source.

22. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

an online storage controller for use as said at least one target information storage and retrieval system.

23. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

an offline storage controller for use as said at least one target information storage and retrieval system.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein said step of said configuration loader module applying said at least one configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system comprises a partial configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system.

25. The system of claim 15, further comprising an offline configuration database and wherein said step of said configuration loader module applying said at least one configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system further comprises the step of:

executing a task list of configuration actions, wherein said task list in is persistently maintained in said offline configuration database.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein said configuration loader further adapted to execute the step of:

operative to a completion of said application of said at least one configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system, said configuration loader communicating the status of one or more configuration transfers to said configuration loader user interface.

27. An article of manufacture comprising a data storage medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a system to configure information storage and retrieval systems, said system comprising:

a configuration loader user interface for accepting configuration commands;

at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source;

at least one target information storage and retrieval system; and

a configuration loader capable of communicating with said configuration loader user interface, with said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source and with said at least one target information storage and retrieval system, said configuration loader comprising a configuration loader module for applying said at least one configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system, where said program of machine-readable instructions causes;

operative to said configuration loader receiving a command from said configuration loader user interface to configure said at least one target information storage and retrieval system using said at least one configuration source;

said configuration loader module applying said configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 27 where said program of machine-readable instructions further causes:

operative to a completion of said application of said at least one configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system, said configuration loader communicating to said configuration loader user interface said completion of said application of said at least one configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 27, wherein said system further comprises a thread manager for managing at least one thread, wherein said step of said configuration loader module applying said configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system is accomplished by said program of machine-readable instructions causing said at least one thread to execute the steps of:

determine a physical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source;

determine a physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system;

operative to a compatibility between said physical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source and said physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system;

determine a logical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source;

determine a logical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system; and

configure said logical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system to be the same as said logical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 29, where said program of machine-readable instructions further causes said at least one thread to:

operative to an incompatibility between said physical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source and said physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system;

configure said physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system to be the same as said physical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source;

determine a logical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source;

determine a logical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system; and

configure said logical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system to be the same as said logical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source.

31. The article of manufacture of claim 27, where said program of machine-readable instructions further causes a partial configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system.

32. The article of manufacture of claim 27, where said program of machine-readable instructions further causes the execution of a task list of configuration actions.

33. The article of manufacture of claim 27, where said program of machine-readable instructions further causes:

operative to a completion of said application of said at least one configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system, said configuration loader communicating the status of one or more configuration transfers to said configuration loader user interface.

34. A configuration loader capable of communicating with a configuration loader user interface, with at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source and with at least one target information storage and retrieval system, said configuration loader comprising a configuration loader module for applying said at least one configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system.

35. The configuration loader of claim 34, where said configuration loader is adapted to execute steps comprising:

operative to said configuration loader receiving a command from said configuration loader user interface to configure said at least one target information storage and retrieval system using said at least one configuration source;

said configuration loader module applying said configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system.

36. The configuration loader of claim 34, further comprising a thread manager for managing at least one thread, wherein said step of said configuration loader module applying said configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system is accomplished by said at least one thread executing the steps of:

determining a physical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source;

determining a physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system;

operative to a compatibility between said physical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source and said physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system;

determining a logical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source;

determining a logical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system; and

configuring said logical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system to be the same as said logical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source.

37. A method for delivering a service to configure information storage and retrieval systems, comprising:

providing a configuration loader user interface for accepting configuration commands;

providing a configuration loader capable of communicating with said configuration loader user interface, with at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source and with at least one target information storage and retrieval system, said configuration loader comprising a configuration loader module for applying said at least one configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system;

operative to said configuration loader receiving a command from said configuration loader user interface to configure said at least one target information storage and retrieval system using said at least one configuration source;

said configuration loader module determining a cost to apply said configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising the steps of:

said configuration loader module applying said configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising the steps of:

operative to a completion of said application of said at least one configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system, said configuration loader billing said cost to a customer.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein said step of said configuration loader module determining a cost to apply said configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system further comprises the steps of:

determining a physical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source;

determining a physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system;

operative to a compatibility between said physical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source and said physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system;

determining a logical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source;

determining a logical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system; and

determining said cost from a difference between said logical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system and said logical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein said step of said configuration loader module determining a cost to apply said configuration source to said at least one target information storage and retrieval system further comprises the steps of:

determining a physical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source;

determining a physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system; and

operative to an incompatibility between said physical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source and said physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system;

determining said cost from a difference between said physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system and said physical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

configuring said physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system to be the same as said physical configuration of said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source; and

billing a customer for said configuring said physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said configuring said physical configuration of said at least one target information storage and retrieval system is accomplished by at least one service person.

44. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

providing a computer system for operation of said configuration loader user interface; and

billing a customer for providing said computer system for operation of said configuration loader user interface.

45. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

providing a computer system for operation of said configuration loader; and

billing a customer for providing said computer system for operation of said configuration loader.

46. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

providing an online storage controller as said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source; and

billing a customer for providing said online storage controller.

47. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

providing an offline storage controller as said at least one information storage and retrieval system configuration source; and

billing a customer for providing said offline storage controller.

48. A data storage system, comprising:

a configuration loader user interface for accepting configuration commands;

a first information storage and retrieval system;

a second information storage and retrieval system; and

a configuration loader capable of communicating with said configuration loader user interface, with said first information storage and retrieval system and with said second information storage and retrieval system, said configuration loader comprising a configuration loader module for applying a configuration from said first information storage and retrieval system to said second information storage and retrieval system.

49. The system of claim 48, where said configuration loader is adapted to execute steps comprising:

operative to said configuration loader receiving a command from said configuration loader user interface to configure said second information storage and retrieval system using said configuration from said first information storage and retrieval system;

said configuration loader module applying said configuration from said first information storage and retrieval system to said second information storage and retrieval system.