METHODS AND STRUCTURE FOR FIRMWARE UPGRADE OF DEVICES IN A STORAGE NETWORK
First Claim
1. A method for updating firmware for a plurality of components of a storage network, the plurality of components comprising one or more switching components and one or more target components, the method comprising:
- receiving in a switching component a package buffer comprising firmware for each of the plurality of components;
updating firmware in the switching component based on a portion of the package buffer comprising firmware for the switching component;
for each target component coupled directly to the switching component, performing the steps of;
transmitting from the switching component to said each target component a corresponding portion of the package buffer comprising firmware for said each target component; and
updating firmware in said each target component based on the corresponding portion of the package buffer received from the switching component; and
for each other switching component directly coupled with the switching component, performing the steps of;
transmitting the package buffer from the switching component to said each other switching component; and
repeating the method within said each other switching component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for improved update of firmware for components in a storage system/network. A storage network comprising one or more initiator components coupled through one or more switching components to one or more target components may be updated by generating and distributing a package buffer comprising portions where each portion comprises firmware for a corresponding type of component. Switching and/or initiator components in the system locate a portion of the package buffer for each target component directly coupled to it and transmits the located, corresponding portion (comprising firmware) to each target component. Each initiator/switching component then also forwards the entire package buffer to each other switching component coupled with it and the process repeats until all components have received updated firmware.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for updating firmware for a plurality of components of a storage network, the plurality of components comprising one or more switching components and one or more target components, the method comprising:
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receiving in a switching component a package buffer comprising firmware for each of the plurality of components; updating firmware in the switching component based on a portion of the package buffer comprising firmware for the switching component; for each target component coupled directly to the switching component, performing the steps of; transmitting from the switching component to said each target component a corresponding portion of the package buffer comprising firmware for said each target component; and updating firmware in said each target component based on the corresponding portion of the package buffer received from the switching component; and for each other switching component directly coupled with the switching component, performing the steps of; transmitting the package buffer from the switching component to said each other switching component; and repeating the method within said each other switching component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for upgrading devices in a Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) storage domain, the SAS domain comprising a plurality of SAS devices, the plurality of SAS devices comprising a SAS initiator and comprising one or more SAS expanders coupled with the SAS initiator and comprising one or more SAS targets coupled with the one or more SAS expanders, the method comprising:
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a) transmitting a package buffer from the SAS initiator to each SAS expander directly coupled with the SAS initiator, the package buffer comprising a one or more portions, each portion of the package buffer comprising firmware for a corresponding SAS device of the plurality of SAS devices; b) locating, by operation of said each SAS expander, a portion of the package buffer comprising firmware corresponding with said each SAS expander; c) updating firmware in said each SAS expander based on the firmware in the located portion of the package buffer; d) for each SAS expander in receipt of the package buffer, performing the steps of; transmitting the package buffer to any other SAS expanders directly coupled to said each SAS expander; and for each SAS target directly coupled with said each SAS expander, performing the steps of; locating, by operation of said each SAS expander, a portion of the package buffer comprising firmware corresponding with each SAS target directly coupled with said each SAS expander;
;transmitting a SCSI command comprising said portion from said each SAS expander to said each SAS target; and updating, by operation of said each SAS target, firmware in said each target device based on firmware in said portion received from said each SAS expander; and e) repeating steps b), c), d), and e) for each other SAS expander of the storage domain that receives the package buffer from any of said each SAS expanders. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A storage system comprising:
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an initiator component; a switching component coupled with the initiator component; and one or more target components coupled with the switching component, wherein the switching component is adapted to receive a package buffer comprising firmware for the switching component and for the one or more target components, wherein the switching component is further adapted to update its firmware based on a portion of the package buffer comprising firmware for the switching component, wherein the switching component is further adapted to locate a portion of the package buffer comprising firmware for each of the one or more target components, and wherein the switching component is further adapted to transmit the located portion for each of the one or more target components to the corresponding target component to permit update of the firmware in each of the one or more target components. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification