Graphical user interface for configuration of a storage system

• US 6,538,669 B1
• Filed: 07/15/1999
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Collins, James M., Yeaman, John B., Higgins, Robert M., Lagueux, Richard A. Jr., Stevens, Brian E., Stave, Joel H.
• Primary Examiner(s): dela Torre, Crescelle N.
• Application Number:
  US09/354,110
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 345/700, 345/733-738, 345/764, 345/780, 345/810, 345/835, 345/853, 345/854, 345/965, 345/969, 710/8-11, 711/100, 711/111, 711/112, 711/117, 711/170, 709/220, 709/223, 709/224
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2003/0697 device management, e.g. handlers, drivers, I/O schedulers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2206/1008 Graphical user interface [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems

Abstract

A storage server architecture supporting virtual devices and virtual circuits for storing data is provided. The storage server includes a plurality of communication interfaces. A first set of communication interfaces in the plurality is adapted for connection to all kinds of users of data. A second set of communication interfaces in the plurality is adapted for connection to respective devices in a pool of storage devices. Data processing resources in the server are coupled to the plurality of communication interfaces for transferring data among the interfaces. The data processing resources comprise a plurality of driver modules and configurable logic linking driver modules into data paths. Each configured data path acts as a virtual circuit that includes a set of driver modules selected from the plurality of driver modules. A data storage transaction which is received at a communication interface is mapped to one of the configured data paths. A display and a user input device are included with data processing structures to manage images displayed on the display. The images include a first image arranged to prompt a user to input configuration data concerning host systems coupled to one of the plurality of communication interfaces, a second image arranged to prompt a user to input data concerning storage resources coupled to one of the plurality of communication interfaces, and a third image arrange to prompt a user to input data concerning logical addresses used by the host systems to access the storage resources accessible using the server.

Claims

1. A user interface for configuration of a storage system, comprising:

a display;

a user input device;

data processing structures, coupled to the display and to the user input device, including logic to manage images displayed on the display, the images including a first image arranged to prompt a user to input data concerning host systems coupled to a server, a second image arranged to prompt a user to input data concerning storage resources accessible using the server, and a third image arranged to prompt a user to input data concerning logical addresses used by the host systems to access the storage resources accessible using the server,

the second image including a display construct listing storage elements available for configuration, the storage elements available for configuration including a mirror storage element, the mirror storage element including two or more storage elements,

the display construct including a hierarchical tree, the mirror storage element being represented as a head of the hierarchical tree, and the two or more storage elements being represented as branches of the hierarchical tree; and

a communication interface arranged to provide the input data to the server.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the storage system includes resources to support a plurality of host systems, and the first image include a graphic tool allowing a user to add a host system to the plurality of host systems.

3. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the first image comprises a display construct listing host systems available for configuration.

4. The user interface of claim 3, wherein the display construct includes for hosts available for configuration, a host name field, a port number field for an identifier of a port in the server, and a protocol ID field for an identifier of the host for use by a storage channel protocol.

5. The user interface of claim 4, wherein the display construct includes for hosts available for configuration, a description field for a description of an associated host.

6. The user interface of claim 3, wherein the display construct includes for hosts available for configuration, a unique identifier field for an associated host system.

7. The user interface of claim 6, wherein the unique identifier comprises a World Wide Name value.

8. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the storage resources include a plurality of storage elements, and the second image includes a graphic tool allowing a user to add a storage element to the plurality of storage elements.

9. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the display construct includes for storage elements available for configuration, a field indicating a name and a type of storage element for an associated storage element.

10. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the display construct includes for storage elements available for configuration, a description field for a description of an associated storage element.

11. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the display construct comprises a hierarchical tree, and storage elements available for configuration include a stripe storage element as a head of the tree, and two or more storage elements configured as parts of the stripe storage element as branches of the tree.

12. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the display construct comprises a hierarchical tree, and storage elements available for configuration includes a logical unit as head of the tree, and a plurality of logical partitions of the logical unit as branches of the tree.

13. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the third image comprises a display construct listing logical addresses of configured storage resources.

14. The user interface of claim 13, wherein the logical address comprises a Logical Unit Number LUN.

15. The user interface of claim 13, wherein the display construct includes for a configured logical address, an identifier of an associated storage resource and an identifier of an associated host system.

16. The user interface of claim 13, wherein the display construct includes for a configured logical address, an indicator of status of the configured logical address.

17. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the communication interface comprises a serial port.

18. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the communication interface comprises network interface.

19. A storage server, comprising:

a plurality of communication interfaces;

data processing resources couples with the plurality of communication interfaces which transfer data among the plurality of communication interfaces, the resources including a plurality of driver modules, and configurable logic linking driver modules in the plurality of driver modules into data paths, the data paths including respective sets of driver modules; and

a user interface coupled to the data processing resources to accept input data, and supply the input data to the data processing resources to configure the configurable logic, the user interface including a display and a user input device;

data processing structures, coupled to the display and to the user input device, including logic to manage images displayed on the display, the images including a first image arranged to prompt a user to input data concerning host systems coupled to one of the plurality of communication interfaces, a second image arranged to prompt a user to input data concerning storage resources coupled to one of the plurality of communication interfaces, and a third image arranged to provide the input data to the configurable logic

the first image including a display construct listing host systems available for configuration

the second image including a display construct listing storage elements available for use, the storage elements available for use including a respective set of driver modules, the respective set of driver modules including a mirror storage element, the mirror storage element including two or more storage elements,

the display construct including a hierarchical tree, the mirror storage element being represented as a head of the hierarchical tree, and the two or more storage elements being represented as branches of the hierarchical tree

a communication interface arranged to provide the input data to the configurable logic.

20. The storage server of claim 19, wherein first image include a graphic tool allowing a user to add a host system.

21. The storage server of claim 19, wherein the display construct includes for hosts available for configuration, a host name field, a port number field for an identifier of a port in the storage system, and a protocol ID field for an identifier of the host for use by a storage channel protocol.

22. The storage server of claim 21, wherein the display construct includes for hosts available for configuration, a description field for a description of an associated host.

23. The storage server of claim 21, wherein the display construct includes for hosts available for configuration, a unique identifier field for an associated host system.

24. The storage server of claim 23, wherein the unique identifier comprises a World Wide Name value.

25. The storage server of claim 21, wherein the storage resources include a plurality of storage elements, and the second image includes a graphic tool allowing a user to add a storage element to the plurality of storage elements.

26. The storage server of claim 21, wherein the display construct includes for storage elements available for configuration, a field indicating a name and a type of storage element for an associated storage element.

27. The storage server of claim 21, wherein the display construct includes for storage elements available for configuration, a description field for a description of an associated storage element.

28. The storage server of claim 21, wherein the display construct comprises a hierarchical tree, and storage elements available for configuration include a stripe storage element as a head of the tree, and two or more storage elements configured as parts of the stripe storage element as branches of the tree.

29. The storage server of claim 21, wherein the display construct comprises a hierarchical tree, and storage elements available for configuration includes a logical unit as head of the tree, and a plurality of logical partitions of the logical unit as branches of the tree.

30. The storage server of claim 21, wherein the third image comprises a display construct listing logical addresses of configured storage resources.

31. The storage server of claim 30, wherein the logical address comprises a Logical Unit Number LUN.

32. The storage server of claim 30, wherein the display construct includes for a configured logical address, an identifier of an associated storage resource and an identifier of an associated host system.

33. The storage server of claim 21, wherein the user interface includes a graphical user interface comprising a display and a pointing device.

34. The storage server of claim 19, wherein the plurality of communication interfaces and the data processing resources comprise components of a server, and the user interface comprises a computer coupled to the server via a network.

35. The storage server of claim 19, wherein the plurality of communication interfaces and the data processing resources comprise components of a server, and the user interface comprises a computer coupled to the server via a serial bus.

36. The storage server of claim 19, wherein the plurality of driver modules includes one or more hardware driver modules to manage respective communication interfaces, and one or more internal driver modules to perform data path tasks independently of the plurality of communication interfaces, and wherein the user interface includes resources for prompting a user to enter information identifying host systems coupled to respective communication interfaces, storage devices coupled to respective communication interfaces, and data path tasks assigned to particular logical addresses.

37. The storage server of claim 36, wherein the one or more internal driver modules includes a protocol server for a protocol supported on a communication interface in the plurality of communication interfaces.

38. The storage server of claim 36, wherein the one or more hardware driver modules includes a physical layer driver for a communication link coupled to a communication interface in the plurality of communication interfaces.

39. The storage server of claim 19, wherein the plurality of driver modules includes a protocol server for a protocol supported on a communication interface in the plurality of communication interfaces, the protocol server recognizing logical addresses in a session according to the protocol and linking the session to a data path in response to the logical address.

40. The storage server of claim 19, wherein the user interface comprises a touchscreen coupled to the storage server.

41. A storage system comprising:

a plurality of communication interfaces;

data processing resources coupled with the plurality of communication interfaces which transfer data among the plurality of communication interfaces, the resources including a plurality of driver modules, and configurable logic linking driver modules in the plurality of driver modules into data paths, the data paths including respective sets of driver modules; and

a display and a user input device;

data processing structures, coupled to the display and to the user input device, including logic to manage images displayed on the display, the images including a first image arranged to prompt a user to input data concerning host systems coupled to one of the plurality of communication interfaces, a second image arranged to prompt a user to input data concerning storage elements coupled to one of the plurality of communication interfaces, and a third image arranged to prompt a user to input data concerning logical addresses used by the host systems to access the data paths to storage elements accessible using the server;

the second image including a display construct listing storage elements available for configuration, the storage elements available for configuration including a mirror storage element, the mirror storage element including two or more storage elements,

the display construct including a hierarchical tree, the mirror storage element being represented as a head of the hierarchical tree, and the two or more storage elements being represented as branches of the hierarchical tree.

42. A method for configuring a storage system comprising

presenting a first image to prompt a user to input data concerning host systems coupled to a server;

presenting a second image to prompt a user to input data concerning storage resources accessible using the server,

the second image including listing storage elements available for configuration, the storage elements available for configuration including a mirror storage element, the mirror storage element including two or more storage elements, the presenting the second image including presenting a hierarchical tree, the mirror storage element being represented as a head of the hierarchical tree and the two or more storage elements being represented as branches of the hierarchical tree; and

presenting a third image to prompt a user to input data concerning logical addresses used by the host systems to access the storage resources accessible using the server.