Configuration verification, recommendation, and animation method for a disk array in a storage area network (SAN)

• US 20070260712A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
• Inventors: Jibbe, Mahmoud
• Granted Patent: US 8,024,440 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0823 characterised by the purposes of a change of settings, e.g. optimising configuration for enhancing reliability for optimising operational conditions of wireless networks H04W24/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0873 Checking configuration conflicts between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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 system and method for establishing a storage area network (SAN) is described. The method includes providing a predefined template for inputting data associated with a SAN. A first tool may utilize the template to validate an entered SAN configuration based on accessing data in a database. A second tool may utilize the template to generate a valid SAN configuration, based on accessing SAN data in a database, if component data is entered. An animated configuration of a valid SAN is generated based on at least one of the input SAN configuration or the input component data.

Claims

1. A method for storage area network (SAN) establishment, comprising:

providing a predefined template configured for inputting data associated with a SAN;

utilizing the predefined template by a first tool to obtain a configuration for a SAN, including component data, if a SAN configuration is input for validation;

utilizing the predefined template by a second tool configured for generating a SAN configuration, if component data is input to the predefined template;

accessing a database including SAN data;

generating an animated configuration of a valid SAN configuration to the predefined template from the accessed database based on at least one of the SAN configuration input for validation or the input component data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising recommending an optimized SAN configuration based on input component data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein SAN data includes at least one of wiring configuration data, zoning configuration data, host clustering data, host bus adapter data, or software parameter data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating an animated configuration includes providing a warning of an input non-conforming component, if no match is found in the database for the input component.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein generating an animated configuration includes recommending a conforming component, if no match is found in the database for input component data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising recommending a step-by-step procedure for establishing the SAN based on the animated configuration.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising cross-referencing printed documentation associated with a step included in the step-by-step procedure.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein SAN data includes a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) configuration.

9. A software system for storage area network (SAN) establishment, comprising:

an electronically readable medium encoded to cause a central processing unit executing the software system for storage area network (SAN) establishment to effectively generate;

a template configured for inputting SAN data including SAN component data;

a database of SAN data;

a first tool configured for utilizing the template to determine if an input SAN configuration is valid based upon the database of SAN data; and

a second tool configured for utilizing the template to recommended a valid SAN configuration selected from the SAN data included in the database, if component data is input,

wherein the software system generates an animated configuration of a valid SAN based on SAN data input to the template.

10. The software system of claim 9, wherein the animated configuration is an optimized SAN configuration.

11. The software system of claim 9, wherein the database contains SAN data including at least one of wiring configuration data, zoning configuration data, host clustering data, host bus adapter data, or software parameter data.

12. The software system of claim 9, wherein the template recommends a conforming component, if no match is found in the database for an input SAN component.

13. The software system of claim 9, wherein the template recommends a step-by-step procedure for establishing the animated SAN.

14. The software system of claim 9, wherein the database contains redundant array of independent disks (RAID) configuration data.

15. A system for storage area network (SAN) establishment, comprising:

means for inputting data associated with establishment of a SAN;

a database of SAN data including SAN component data;

means for comparing input data, associated with establishment of a SAN, with the database of SAN data, to generate an animated configuration of a valid SAN.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for comparing input data generates an animated configuration of an optimized SAN configuration.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the input means is configured for accepting SAN component data including at least one of wiring configuration data, zoning configuration data, a host clustering data, host bus adapter data, redundant array of independent disks (RAID) configuration data, or software parameter data.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the comparing means provides a warning of a non-conforming component.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the comparing means recommends a step-by-step procedure for establishing the animated SAN.