System and method for managing storage resources in a clustered computing environment

• US 6,622,163 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2000
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Nam V., Tawill, Ahmad H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coulter, Kenneth R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hai V.
• Application Number:
  US09/524,401
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/211, 709/220, 709/221, 709/200, 711/164, 712/15, 713/100, 714/6
• US Class Current: 709/211
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0614 Improving the reliability of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0644 Management of space entities, e.g. partitions, extents, pools
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A system and method for managing storage resources in a clustered computing environment are disclosed. A method incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include holding a reservation on a storage resource for a first node of a clustered computing environment. A third party process log out for the first node may be performed and the reservation held for the first node may be released.

Claims

1. A method for managing storage resources in a multiple cluster computing environment, the method comprising:

holding a reservation on a storage resource for a first node of a cluster within the multiple cluster computing environment;

failing to receive a heartbeat signal from the first node at the second node;

determining that the first node is not functioning as a result of the failure to receive the heartbeat signal;

determining that the first node is not functioning at a second node within the cluster;

performing a third party process log out for the first node; and

releasing the reservation held for the first node.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating the third party process log out from a second node of the multiple cluster computing environment.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating the third party process log out from a switch associated with the multiple cluster computing environment.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a zone within a Fibre Channel storage system, the zone comprising the first node of the multiple cluster computing environment, the second node of the multiple cluster computing environment, and at least one storage resource.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage resource comprises a hard drive.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

storing identification information about the first node; and

using the identification information to issue a third party process log out request.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a world wide name and a source identifier to the first node; and

using the world wide name and the source identifier to issue the third party process log out request on behalf of the first node.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a world wide name and a source identifier to the first node;

assigning a second world wide name and a second source identifier to the second node;

using the world wide name and the source identifier to issue the third party process log out request for the first node;

logging out the first node; and

logging out the second node.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node comprises a server.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node comprises a workstation.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising logging out the second node of the multiple cluster computing environment.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating a state change notification with a switch associated with the multiple cluster computing environment.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

initiating a loop initialization protocol link reset; and

generating a state change notification in response to the loop initialization protocol link reset.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

in response to the state change notification, performing a responsive port login with the second node.

15. A method for managing storage resources in a multiple cluster computing environment, the method comprising:

receiving a small computer system interface reservation command seeking to reserve a storage resource for a node of a cluster within the multiple cluster computing environment; and

in response to the reservation command, issuing a small computer system interface persistent reserve out command with a service action of reserve to reserve the storage resource for the node.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a miniport driver receives the reservation command and issues the persistent reserve out command.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising releasing a reservation held for the node by issuing a small computer system interface persistent reserve out command with a service action of clear.

18. A computer system, comprising:

a first node of a cluster within a multiple cluster computing environment;

a second node of the cluster within the multiple cluster computing environment; and

a resource management engine operable to convert a small component system interface reset command into a storage resource releasing command.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the resource releasing command comprises a third party process log out.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the resource releasing command comprises a small component system interface persistent reserve out command with a clear action.

21. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a computer readable medium storing the resource management engine; and

a central processing unit communicatively coupled to the computer readable medium and operable to execute the resource management engine.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a plurality of computing platforms communicatively coupled to the fast node;

a Fibre Channel switch communicatively coupled to the first -node; and

a plurality of storage devices communicatively coupled to the Fibre Channel switch.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the Fibre Channel switch comprises the central processing unit.