Method and apparatus for providing a logical separation of a customer device and a service device connected to a data storage system

• US 20070237158A1
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Ferson, Matthew, Sullivan, Douglas, Leef, Phillip
• Granted Patent: US 8,089,903 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.530
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• 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 data storage system includes storage array and a switch that is configurable to create numerous network topologies within the system and to maintain separate communications paths between different computerized devices or networks and the storage array. For example, a user device and a service device, such as a system diagnosis device, can connect to the storage array through the switch. In order to isolate interaction or communication between the user and service devices, the switch can be logically partitioned into two distinct switches to form two distinct, isolated communications paths between the devices and the storage array. With isolated communications pathways established in the switch, in use, the service device is unable to access the user device coupled to the storage array.

Claims

1. In a communications management device, a method of forming a communication pathway with a storage array, comprising:

connecting a switch of the communications management device with a storage processor of the storage array, the storage processor having a management port and a service port, the management port configured to provide a first device with access to the storage array and the service port configured to provide a second device with access to the storage array;

configuring a virtual local area network of the switch to establish a first communications path of the switch and a second communications path of the switch, the first communications path being isolated form the second communications path; and

conveying data between (i) a first port of the communications management device and at least one of the management port and the service port of the storage processor using the first communications path and (ii) a second port of the communications management device and at least one of the management port and the service port of the storage processor using the second communications path.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

detecting a configuration characteristic associated with the storage array; and

based upon the configuration characteristic, configuring the VLAN of the switch to establish the first communications path of the switch and the second communications path of the switch, the first communications path being isolated form the second communications path.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

detecting comprises detecting, as the configuration characteristic, that the storage array is configured as part of a storage area network (SAN); and

based upon the storage array being configured as part of the SAN, configuring comprises configuring the VLAN of the switch to establish the first communications path of the switch between the first port of the communications management device and the management port of the storage processor and to establish the second communications path of the switch pathway between the second port of the communications management device and the service port of the storage processor, the first communications path being isolated form the second communications path.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein:

detecting comprises detecting, as the configuration characteristic, that the storage array is configured as part of a network attached storage (NAS) system; and

based upon the storage array being configured as part of the NAS system, configuring comprises configuring the VLAN of the switch to establish the first communications path of the switch between the first port of the communications management device and the management port of the storage processor and between the second port of the communications management device and the management port of the storage processor, the first communications path being isolated form the second communications path.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

connecting the switch comprises connecting the switch of the communications management device with a midplane to access one of a first storage processor and a second storage processor of the storage array, each of the first storage processor and second storage processor including a management port and a service port, each management port configured to provide a first network with access to the storage array and each service port configured to provide a second network with access to the storage array;

detecting a coupling characteristic indicating connection of the switch with one of a first midplane location and a second midplane location; and

based upon the coupling characteristic, configuring the VLAN of the switch to establish the first communications path of the switch between the first port of the communications management device and the management port of one of the first storage processor and the second storage processor and to establish the second communications path of the switch between the second port of the communications management device and the service port of one of the first storage processor and the second storage processor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first port has a first fixed location on the communications management device and the second port has a second fixed location on the communications management device, relative to the first port.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a communications management device connection between the switch of the communications management device and a second switch associated with a second communications management device electrically coupled to the storage array.

8. A communications management device, comprising:

a first port, a second port, a switch electrically coupled to the first port and the second port, and a controller electrically coupled to the switch, the controller configured to;

connect the switch of the communications management device with a storage processor of the storage array, the storage processor having a management port and a service port, the management port configured to provide a first device with access to the storage array and the service port configured to provide a second device with access to the storage array;

configure a virtual local area network of the switch to establish a first communications path of the switch and a second communications path of the switch, the first communications path being isolated form the second communications path, the first communications path operable to convey data between the first port of the communications management device and at least one of the management port and the service port of the storage processor and the second communications path operable to convey data between the second port of the communications management device and at least one of the management port and the service port of the storage processor.

9. The communications management device of claim 8, wherein, the controller is further configured to:

detect a configuration characteristic associated with the storage array; and

based upon the configuration characteristic, configure the VLAN of the switch to establish the first communications path of the switch and the second communications path of the switch, the first communications path being isolated form the second communications path.

10. The communications management device of claim 9, wherein:

when detecting, the controller is configured to detect, as the configuration characteristic, that the storage array is configured as part of a storage area network (SAN); and

based upon the storage array being configured as part of the SAN, when configuring, the controller is operable to configure the VLAN of the switch to establish the first communications path of the switch between the first port of the communications management device and the management port of the storage processor and to establish the second communications path of the switch pathway between the second port of the communications management device and the service port of the storage processor, the first communications path being isolated form the second communications path.

11. The communications management device of claim 9, wherein:

when detecting, the controller is configured to detect, as the configuration characteristic, that the storage array is configured as part of a network attached storage (NAS) system; and

based upon the storage array being configured as part of the NAS system, when configuring, the controller is operable to configure the VLAN of the switch to establish the first communications path of the switch between the first port of the communications management device and the management port of the storage processor and between the second port of the communications management device and the management port of the storage processor, the first communications path being isolated form the second communications path.

12. The communications management device of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to:

when connecting the switch, connect the switch of the communications management device with a midplane to access one of a first storage processor and a second storage processor of the storage array, each of the first storage processor and second storage processor including a management port and a service port, each management port configured to provide a first network with access to the storage array and each service port configured to provide a second network with access to the storage array;

detect a coupling characteristic indicating connection of the switch with one of a first midplane location and a second midplane location; and

based upon the coupling characteristic, configure the VLAN of the switch to establish the first communications path of the switch between the first port of the communications management device and the management port of one of the first storage processor and the second storage processor and to establish the second communications path of the switch between the second port of the communications management device and the service port of one of the first storage processor and the second storage processor.

13. The communications management device of claim 12, wherein the first port has a first fixed location on the communications management device and the second port has a second fixed location on the communications management device relative to the first port.

14. The communications management device of claim 8, wherein the switch of the communications management device is configured to electrically couple with a second switch associated with a second communications management device electrically coupled to the storage array via a communications management device connection.

15. A data storage system, comprising:

a storage array having a storage processor, the storage processor having a management port and a service port, the management port configured to provide a first device with access to the storage array and the service port configured to provide a second device with access to the storage array; and

a communications management device, having a first port, a second port, a switch electrically coupled to the first port and the second port, and a controller electrically coupled to the switch, the controller configured to;

connect the switch of the communications management device with the storage processor of the storage array;

configure a virtual local area network of the switch to establish a first communications path of the switch and a second communications path of the switch, the first communications path being isolated form the second communications path, the first communications path operable to convey data between the first port of the communications management device and at least one of the management port and the service port of the storage processor and the second communications path operable to convey data between the second port of the communications management device and at least one of the management port and the service port of the storage processor.

16. The data storage system of claim 15, wherein, the controller is further configured to:

detect a configuration characteristic associated with the storage array; and

based upon the configuration characteristic, configure the VLAN of the switch to establish the first communications path of the switch and the second communications path of the switch, the first communications path being isolated form the second communications path.

17. The data storage system of claim 16, wherein:

when detecting, the controller is configured to detect, as the configuration characteristic, that the storage array is configured as part of a storage area network (SAN); and

based upon the storage array being configured as part of the SAN, when configuring, the controller is operable to configure the VLAN of the switch to establish the first communications path of the switch between the first port of the communications management device and the management port of the storage processor and to establish the second communications path of the switch pathway between the second port of the communications management device and the service port of the storage processor, the first communications path being isolated form the second communications path.

18. The data storage system of claim 16, wherein:

when detecting, the controller is configured to detect, as the configuration characteristic, that the storage array is configured as part of a network attached storage (NAS) system; and

based upon the storage array being configured as part of the NAS system, when configuring, the controller is operable to configure the VLAN of the switch to establish the first communications path of the switch between the first port of the communications management device and the management port of the storage processor and between the second port of the communications management device and the management port of the storage processor, the first communications path being isolated form the second communications path.

19. The data storage system of claim 15, wherein:

the storage array comprises a midplane, a first storage processor and a second storage processor, each of the first storage processor and second storage processor having a management port and a service port, each management port configured to provide a first network with access to the storage array and each service port configured to provide a second network with access to the storage array; and

the controller is configured to;

when connecting the switch, connect the switch of the communications management device with the midplane to access one of a first storage processor and a second storage processor of the storage array, each of the first storage processor and second storage processor including a management port and a service port, each management port configured to provide a first network with access to the storage array and each service port configured to provide a second network with access to the storage array;

detect a coupling characteristic indicating connection of the switch with one of a first midplane location and a second midplane location; and

based upon the coupling characteristic, configure the VLAN of the switch to establish the first communications path of the switch between the first port of the communications management device and the management port of one of the first storage processor and the second storage processor and to establish the second communications path of the switch between the second port of the communications management device and the service port of one of the first storage processor and the second storage processor.

20. The data storage system of claim 19, wherein the first port has a first fixed location on the communications management device and the second port has a second fixed location on the communications management device relative to the first port.

21. The data storage system of claim 19, wherein the storage array comprises a connection that electrically couples the first storage processor and the second storage processor.

22. The data storage system of claim 15, wherein the storage array system is configured to form a communications management device connection between the switch of the communications management device and a second switch of a second communications management device electrically coupled to the storage array.