Zoning of Devices in a Storage Area Network with LUN Masking/Mapping

• US 20090222733A1
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Vojnovich, Theodore Brian, Brown, Deanna Lynn Quigg, Hourselt, Andrew Gary, Basham, Robert Beverley, Ricketts, Ashaki Ayanna, Swingler, Teresa Shen, Islam, Rezaul Shah Mohammad, Hicks, Kelly Louise
• Granted Patent: US 8,930,537 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0604 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0622 in relation to access
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0629 Configuration or reconfiguration of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0637 Permissions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0683 Plurality of storage devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0689 Disk arrays, e.g. RAID, JBOD
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to 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

Host port information is pulled directly from the switch before zoning is performed and is organized by chassis as an assist for mapping and masking an entire chassis. A graphical user interface allows a user to select storage by chassis to map and to select servers by chassis to map. The user then applies that mapping such that all servers selected are mapped to all storage selected. The user may repeat this mapping for another set of storage and servers. In a mixed environment, an icon may be shown in the graphical user interface to represent the mix. When the LUN mapping/masking is done, the LUN mapping/masking may be provided to the SAN manager to perform zoning. The LUN mapping/masking defines which host ports see which storage ports.

Claims

1. A method for zoning a storage area network with logical unit number masking/mapping, the method comprising:

receiving input that represents a mapping of one or more servers to one or more logical volumes to form a logical unit number mapping;

applying the logical unit number mapping in a storage manager; and

automatically zoning the storage area network based on the logical unit number mapping in a storage area network manager.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

pulling host port information from the storage area network manager; and

generating a graphical user interface to present the host port information to a user, wherein the input is user input responsive to the graphical user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically zoning the storage area network based on the logical unit number mapping comprises:

pushing the logical unit number mapping to the storage area network manager such that the storage area network manager automatically zones the storage area network based on the logical unit number mapping.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a graphical user interface for performing logical unit number masking/mapping such that a user maps one or more servers to one or more logical volumes to form a logical unit number mapping, wherein the input is user input responsive to the graphical user interface.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein providing a graphical user interface comprises providing a Web based user interface.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein providing a graphical user interface comprises providing a user interface for mapping servers to storage at a chassis level.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein providing a graphical user interface further comprises providing a mixed mapping graphical indicator.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

expanding the mixed mapping graphical indicator such that a user maps zero or more servers to zero or more logical volumes at a blade level.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a table or a topographical view.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a control and wherein applying the logical unit number mapping comprises mapping all servers to all storage responsive to selection of the control.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the storage area network manager provides the graphical user interface.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the storage manager provides the graphical user interface.

13. A data processing system for zoning a storage area network with logical unit number masking/mapping, the data processing system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive input that represents a mapping of one or more servers to one or more logical volumes to form a logical unit number mapping;

apply the logical unit number mapping in a storage manager; and

automatically zone the storage area network based on the logical unit number mapping in a storage area network manager.

14. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

pull host port information from the storage area network manager; and

generate a graphical user interface to present the host port information to a user, wherein the input is user input responsive to the graphical user interface.

15. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

provide a graphical user interface for performing logical unit number masking/mapping such that a user maps one or more servers to one or more logical volumes to form a logical unit number mapping, wherein the input is user input responsive to the graphical user interface.

16. The data processing system of claim 15, wherein automatically zoning the storage area network based on the logical unit number mapping comprises:

pushing the logical unit number mapping to the storage area network manager such that the storage area network manager automatically zones the storage area network based on the logical unit number mapping.

17. The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the graphical user interface comprises one of a Web based user interface, a user interface for mapping servers to storage at a chassis level, a table, or a topographical view.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer readable program further causes the computing device to:

pull host port information from the storage area network manager; and

generate a graphical user interface to present the host port information to a user, wherein the input is user input responsive to the graphical user interface.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein automatically zoning the storage area network based on the logical unit number mapping comprises:

pushing the logical unit number mapping to the storage area network manager such that the storage area network manager automatically zones the storage area network based on the logical unit number mapping.

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

receive input that represents a mapping of one or more servers to one or more logical volumes to form a logical unit number mapping;

apply the logical unit number mapping in a storage manager; and

automatically zone the storage area network based on the logical unit number mapping in a storage area network manager.