Method and apparatus for identifying network devices on a storage network

• US 6,845,395 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1999
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Ofer, Erez, Cohen, Steve, Blumenau, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr., William C.
• Application Number:
  US09/345,216
• Time in Patent Office: 2,029 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/214, 709/213, 709/225, 709/226, 709/229, 709/219, 709/227, 709/228, 711/152, 711/111, 711/162, 711/112, 713/201, 707/9, 707/10
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing the availability and assignment of data in a storage system that is coupled to a network. A user interface is provided that executes on a host processor that is coupled to the storage system over the network. The user interface communicates with a configuration database in the storage system to identify host processors that are logged into the storage system over the network, to identify storage volumes on the storage system, to identify whether access to a particular storage volume on the storage system is permitted from a particular host processor, and to identify a network path by which host processors are logged into the storage system over the network. In one embodiment, a graphical user interface is provided that can be used to graphically represent host processors, host bus adapters, storage systems, and storage system adapters and storage volumes on the storage system. The graphical representation provided by the graphical user interface permits a user to graphically view a topology of the network at varying levels of detail, selectable by the user. The graphical user interface also permits a user to allow or deny access to storage systems or a particular storage volume on storage system from one or more of the host processors, host bus adapters, etc., by selecting and manipulating graphical representations thereof. In another embodiment, a command line user interface is provided with similar functionality.

Claims

1. A method of managing access by a plurality of network devices to data stored on a storage system, the method comprising:

accessing a data structure that includes at least one record identifying at least one of the plurality of network devices as being logged into the storage system; and

based on the accessing of the data structure, determining an identity of at least one of the plurality of network devices that is logged into the storage system;

wherein the data structure includes a plurality of records, each record corresponding to one of the plurality of network devices that is logged into the storage system;

wherein each record of the plurality of records includes a network identifier that identifies a network address of the corresponding one of the plurality of network devices that is logged into the storage system;

wherein at least one record of the plurality of records further includes an automatically assigned alias corresponding to at least one of the plurality of network devices that is logged into the storage system, the alias being based on information other than the network address of the at least one of the plurality of network devices that is logged into the storage system;

wherein the at least one of the plurality of network devices that is logged into the storage system is a host processor, and wherein the alias is based on a node name of the host processor; and

wherein a portion of the alias that is included in the at least one record is dependent upon an operating system of the host processor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one record corresponding to the host processor further includes a file system identifier that identifies a type of file system mounted on the host processor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one record further includes a time stamp that identifies a time at which the at least one of the plurality of network devices logged into the storage system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one record includes an alias corresponding to at least one of the plurality of network devices that is logged into the storage system, the alias being based on information other than a network address of the at least one of the plurality of network devices that is logged into the storage system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising a computer readable medium that includes a memory of the storage system, wherein the computer readable medium has the data structure encoded thereon.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the storage system and the plurality of network devices communicate according to a Fibre Channel network protocol.

7. A storage system comprising:

at least one storage device;

a memory that is coupled to the at least one storage device; and

at least one processor that is coupled to the at least one storage device and the memory, the at least one processor being programmed to store at least one record in the memory identifying at least one of a plurality of network devices as being logged into the storage system;

wherein the at least one processor is programmed to store a plurality of records in the memory, each record corresponding to one of the plurality of network devices that is logged into the storage system;

wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to store a network identifier in each record that identifies a network address of the corresponding one of the plurality of network devices that is logged into the storage system;

wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to create and store an alias in a record corresponding to at least one of the plurality of network devices in response to the at least one of the plurality of network devices logging into the storage system, the alias being automatically assigned to that at least one of the plurality of network devices and being based on information other than the network address of the at least one of the plurality of network devices;

wherein the at least one processor is programmed to create the alias based on a node name of the at least one of the plurality of network devices when the at least one of the plurality of network devices is host processor; and

wherein a portion of the alias that is created by the at least one processor is dependent upon an operating system of the at least one of the plurality of network devices when the at least one of the plurality of network devices is host processor.

8. The storage system of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to create and store a file system identifier in the record corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of network devices when the at least one of the plurality of network devices is host processor.

9. The storage system of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to create and store a time stamp in a record corresponding to at least one of the plurality of network devices in response to the at least one of the plurality of network devices logging into the storage system, the time stamp identifying a time at which the at least one of the plurality of network devices logged into the storage system.

10. The storage system of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to create and store an alias in the record in response to at least one of the plurality of network devices logging into the storage system, the alias being based on information other than a network address of the at least one of the plurality of network devices.