Smart zoning to enforce interoperability matrix in a storage area network
First Claim
1. A method for facilitating enforcement of device interoperability requirements in a storage area network (SAN), the storage area network including a fibre channel fabric comprising at least one switch, the method comprising:
- receiving a first frame, the first frame including header information including a source device identity relating to a source device and a destination device identity relating to a destination device;
determining whether the source device and destination device are members of a first negative zone, wherein the first negative zone corresponds to a SAN-implemented zone having a first associated negative zone attribute prohibiting communication between members of the first negative zone; and
preventing the first frame from reaching the destination device in response to a determination that the source device and destination device are members of the first negative zone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention describes various mechanisms which may be used for improving SAN device interoperability enforcement techniques implemented in SAN or Fibre Channel networks. In one implementation, the technique of the present invention allows a SAN to automatically enforce interoperability requirements between devices connected to a SAN by utilizing SAN zoning technology to implement one or more novel types of “smart” zones having different, customizable attributes. In one implementation, a first device and second device of the SAN may be automatically identified as being non-interoperable. The first device and the second device may then be included as members of a negative zone having a first associated negative zone attribute prohibiting communication between members of the first negative zone.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for facilitating enforcement of device interoperability requirements in a storage area network (SAN), the storage area network including a fibre channel fabric comprising at least one switch, the method comprising:
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receiving a first frame, the first frame including header information including a source device identity relating to a source device and a destination device identity relating to a destination device;
determining whether the source device and destination device are members of a first negative zone, wherein the first negative zone corresponds to a SAN-implemented zone having a first associated negative zone attribute prohibiting communication between members of the first negative zone; and
preventing the first frame from reaching the destination device in response to a determination that the source device and destination device are members of the first negative zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for facilitating enforcement of device interoperability requirements in a storage area network (SAN), the storage area network including a fibre channel fabric comprising at least one switch, the method comprising:
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receiving a first request from a first SAN device, the first request including a lookup request or connection request for identifying other devices connected to the SAN;
accessing a first portion of device interoperability information relating to the first SAN device;
identifying, using the first portion of device interoperability information, at least one non-interoperable device connected to the SAN which is not interoperable with the first SAN device; and
generating a first response to the first request, wherein the first response does not include information relating to an identity of the at least one non-interoperable device. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for facilitating enforcement of device interoperability requirements in a storage area network (SAN), the storage area network including a fibre channel fabric comprising at least one switch, the method comprising:
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analyzing a first portion of device interoperability information relating to the SAN;
automatically identifying, using the first portion of device interoperability information, a first device and second device of the SAN which are non-interoperable; and
including the first device and the second device as members of a first negative zone, wherein the first negative zone corresponds to a SAN-implemented zone having a first associated negative zone attribute prohibiting communication between members of the first negative zone. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for facilitating enforcement of device interoperability requirements in a storage area network (SAN), the storage area network including a fibre channel fabric comprising at least one switch, the system comprising:
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at least one processor;
at least one interface configured or designed to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in the SAN; and
memory;
the system being configured or designed to;
receive a first frame, the first frame including header information including a source device identity relating to a source device and a destination device identity relating to a destination device;
determine whether the source device and destination device are members of a first negative zone, wherein the first negative zone corresponds to a SAN-implemented zone having a first associated negative zone attribute prohibiting communication between members of the first negative zone; and
prevent the first frame from reaching the destination device in response to a determination that the source device and destination device are members of the first negative zone. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for facilitating enforcement of device interoperability requirements in a storage area network (SAN), the storage area network including a fibre channel fabric comprising at least one switch, the system comprising:
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at least one processor;
at least one interface configured or designed to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in the SAN; and
memory;
the system being configured or designed to;
receive a first request from a first SAN device, the first request including a lookup request or connection request for identifying other devices connected to the SAN;
access a first portion of device interoperability information relating to the first SAN device;
identify, using the first portion of device interoperability information, at least one non-interoperable device connected to the SAN which is not interoperable with the first SAN device; and
generate a first response to the first request, wherein the first response does not include information relating to an identity of the at least one non-interoperable device. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for facilitating enforcement of device interoperability requirements in a storage area network (SAN), the storage area network including a fibre channel fabric comprising at least one switch, the system comprising:
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at least one processor;
at least one interface configured or designed to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in the SAN; and
memory;
the system being configured or designed to;
analyze a first portion of device interoperability information relating to the SAN;
automatically identify, using the first portion of device interoperability information, a first device and second device of the SAN which are non-interoperable; and
include the first device and the second device as members of a first negative zone, wherein the first negative zone corresponds to a SAN-implemented zone having a first associated negative zone attribute prohibiting communication between members of the first negative zone. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A system for facilitating enforcement of device interoperability requirements in a storage area network (SAN), the storage area network including a fibre channel fabric comprising at least one switch, the system comprising:
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means for receiving a first frame, the first frame including header information including a source device identity relating to a source device and a destination device identity relating to a destination device;
means for determining whether the source device and destination device are members of a first negative zone, wherein the first negative zone corresponds to a SAN-implemented zone having a first associated negative zone attribute prohibiting communication between members of the first negative zone; and
means for preventing the first frame from reaching the destination device in response to a determination that the source device and destination device are members of the first negative zone.
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36. A system for facilitating enforcement of device interoperability requirements in a storage area network (SAN), the storage area network including a fibre channel fabric comprising at least one switch, the system comprising:
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means for receiving a first request from a first SAN device, the first request including a lookup request or connection request for identifying other devices connected to the SAN;
means for accessing a first portion of device interoperability information relating to the first SAN device;
means for identifying, using the first portion of device interoperability information, at least one non-interoperable device connected to the SAN which is not interoperable with the first SAN device; and
means for generating a first response to the first request, wherein the first response does not include information relating to an identity of the at least one non-interoperable device.
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37. A system for facilitating enforcement of device interoperability requirements in a storage area network (SAN), the storage area network including a fibre channel fabric comprising at least one switch, the system comprising:
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means for analyzing a first portion of device interoperability information relating to the SAN;
means for automatically identifying, using the first portion of device interoperability information, a first device and second device of the SAN which are non-interoperable; and
means for including the first device and the second device as members of a first negative zone, wherein the first negative zone corresponds to a SAN-implemented zone having a first associated negative zone attribute prohibiting communication between members of the first negative zone.
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Specification