END TO END QUALITY OF SERVICE IN STORAGE AREA NETWORKS

• US 20170237670A1
• Filed: 10/31/2014
• Published: 08/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Inventors: Puttagunta, Krishna B., Mohan, Rupin T., Agarwal, Vivek
• Granted Patent: US 10,574,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2433 Allocation of priorities to traffic types
• 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

Example implementations relate to end-to-end quality of service in storage area networks. For example, a method includes receiving input at a target from a user, the input to assign a priority level to a logical unit. This may include registering the logical unit priority level at a switch using an in-band communication in response to the priority level being assigned to the logical unit. This can also include instructing a host to implement the priority level using the in-band communication in response to the priority level being assigned to the logical unit. Further, the methods and systems may enforce the priority level with the host, the switch, and the target.

Claims

1. A method for providing end-to-end quality of service in a network, comprising:

receiving input at a target from a user, the input to assign a priority level to a logical unit;

registering the logical unit priority level at a switch using an in-band communication in response to the priority level being assigned to the logical unit;

instructing a host to implement the priority level using the in-band communication in response to the priority level being assigned to the logical unit; and

enforcing the priority level with the host, the switch, and the target.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising attaching the priority level to a frame traveling between the host, the switch, and the target.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the switch transmits to a plurality of devices by using a multicast in-band communication between the plurality of devices if the plurality of devices belong to a multicast group.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising matching a priority mechanism at both the host and the switch to a requirement of the logical unit specified by the target.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising sending a change notification to the host when the priority level is registered at the switch.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising querying, with the host, a switch name server database when the change notification is sent to the host, wherein the switch name server database responds to the querying with priority level information for the logical unit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the host enforces the priority level by attaching the priority level to a frame if it is determined that the frame is addressed to the logical unit, wherein the switch enforces the priority level by routing the frame based on the attached priority level, and wherein the target enforces the priority level by copying the priority level of the frame to a returning frame being sent in response to receipt of the frame by the target.

8. A storage area network system, comprising:

a target, wherein a user configures at the target a priority level of a logical unit, and wherein the target enforces the priority level of the logical unit;

a switch to route data received at the switch, wherein the switch receives the priority level of the logical unit through an in-band communication, and wherein the switch enforces the priority level of the logical unit; and

a host, wherein the host receives a priority level by the in-band communication from at least one of the target and the switch, and wherein the host enforces the priority level of the logical unit.

9. The system of claim 8, comprising a frame with the priority level attached, wherein the frame travels between the host, the switch, and the target.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the switch transmits to a plurality of devices by using a multicast in-band communication if the plurality of devices belong to a multicast group.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the host and the switch implement a priority mechanism that enforces a requirement of the logical unit specified by the target.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the host enforces the priority level by attaching the priority level to a frame if it is determined that the frame is addressed to the logical unit, wherein the switch enforces the priority level by routing the frame based on the attached priority level, and wherein the target enforces the priority level by copying the priority level of the frame to a returning frame being sent in response to the receipt of the frame by the target.

13. A computer readable medium having program instructions for providing end-to-end quality of service, that when executed by a processor:

receive input at a target from a user, the input to assign a priority level to a logical unit;

register the logical unit assigned priority level at a switch using an in-band communication in response to the priority level being assigned to the logical unit;

instruct a host to implement the priority level using the in-band communication in response to the priority level being assigned to the logical unit; and

enforce the priority level with the host by attaching the priority level to a frame if it is determined that the frame is addressed to the logical unit;

enforce the priority level with the switch by routing the frame based on the attached priority level; and

enforce the priority level with the target by copying the priority level of the frame to a returning frame if the returning frame is being sent in response to receipt of the frame by the target.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, comprising instructions that when executed by the processor attach the priority level to a frame traveling between the host, the switch, and the target.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the switch is configured to transmit to a plurality of devices by using a multicast in-band communication between the plurality of devices if the plurality of devices belong to a multicast group.