Protocol Independent Server Replacement and Replication in a Storage Area Network

• US 20090187668A1
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Arendt, James Wendell, Barabash, Katherine, Loy, Irit
• Granted Patent: US 8,626,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2023 Failover techniques
• 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 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities

Abstract

A method for adding a server to a storage area network, the method comprising identifying a set comprising one or more communication protocols for connecting a second server to a first storage device configured to communicate with a first server using a first protocol, wherein the set of protocols comprises protocols that are supported by both the second server and the first storage device; selecting a second protocol from the set of protocols; and configuring the first storage device, the second server, and associated connection devices, wherein the second server may communicate with the first storage device using the second protocol.

Claims

1. A method for adding a server to a storage area network, the method comprising:

identifying a set of protocols comprising one or more communication protocols for connecting a second server to a first storage device configured to communicate with a first server using a first protocol, wherein the set of protocols comprises protocols that are supported by both the second server and the first storage device;

selecting a second protocol from the set of protocols; and

configuring the first storage device, the second server, and associated connection devices, wherein the second server may communicate with the first storage device using the second protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second server replaces the first server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second server replicates the first server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting is performed according to a prioritization algorithm that selects the second protocol from the set of protocols based on at least one of physical distance, cost, and connection speed.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a database that includes configuration information about the first server, the first protocol, the first storage device, the second server, and the second protocol.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the database also includes configuration information about the second storage device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the configuration information stored in the database may be used to identify a set of standby servers that are capable of replacing the first server.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transferring data from a second storage device to the first storage device, in response to determining that there are no protocols that are supported by both the second storage device and the second server.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the first protocol is same as the second protocol.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the second server is selected from a set of standby servers that are capable of replacing the first server according to at least one of distance, connection speed and cost.

9. A system for adding a server to a storage area network, the system comprising:

a logic unit for identifying a set of protocols comprising one or more communication protocols for connecting a second server to a first storage device configured to communicate with a first server using a first protocol, wherein the set of protocols comprises protocols that are supported by both the second server and the first storage device;

a logic unit for selecting a second protocol from the set of protocols; and

a logic unit for configuring the first storage device, the second server, and associated connection devices, wherein the second server may communicate with the first storage device using the second protocol.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second server replaces the first server.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the second server replicates the first server.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the selecting is performed according to a prioritization algorithm that selects the second protocol from the set of protocols based on factors such as physical distance, cost, or connection speed.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising a logic unit for maintaining a database that includes configuration information about the first server, the first protocol, the first storage device, the second server, and the second protocol.

14. The system of claim 9, further comprising a logic unit for transferring data from a second storage device to the first storage device, in response to determining that there are no protocols that are supported by both the second storage device and the second server.

22. The system of claim 9, wherein the first protocol is same as the second protocol.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the second server is selected from a set of standby servers that are capable of replacing the first server according to at least one of distance, connection speed and cost.

15. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

identify a set of protocols comprising one or more communication protocols for connecting a second server to a first storage device configured to communicate with a first server using a first protocol, wherein the set of protocols comprises protocols that are supported by both the second server and the first storage device;

select a second protocol from the set of protocols; and

configure the first storage device, the second server, and associated connection devices, wherein the second server may communicate with the first storage device using the second protocol.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the second server replaces the first server.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the second server replicates the first server.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the selecting is performed according to a prioritization algorithm that selects the second protocol from the set of protocols based on factors such as physical distance, cost, or connection speed.

19. The computer program product of claim 15 that further causes the computer to maintain a database that includes configuration information about the first server, the first protocol, the first storage device, the second server, and the second protocol.

20. The computer program product of claim 15 that further causes the computer to transfer data from a second storage device to the first storage device, in response to determining that there are no protocols that are supported by both the second storage device and the second server.

23. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the first protocol is same as the second protocol.