Multiple storage array control
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A network architecture for management of a storage area network by at least one client which is independent of the storage area network, the network architecture comprising:
- a storage system including a plurality of storage devices;
a plurality of host computers connected to the storage system through a first communications network, the host computers including corresponding agents for gathering operation status information associated with the storage area network;
at least one storage management server in communication with the plurality of host computers via the corresponding agents to retrieve the operation status information, the at least one storage management server being adapted to communicate with the at least one client via a web-based second communications network; and
the at least one storage management server providing the operation status information received from the corresponding agents to the at least one client via use of the web-based second communications network and an object request broker in the at least one storage management server for ensuring that the at least one client is able to access the at least one storage management server, wherein the at least one storage management server further provides information relating to an operation status of storage connectivity devices, which connect storage devices to the host computers, based on communications with the agents; and
the at least one storage management server including;
a poller for gathering information relating to an operation status of the storage devices and the storage connectivity devices; and
a central repository for storing the operation status information;
an object server for distributing the information relating to an operation status of the storage devices and storage connectivity devices to the at least one client.
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Abstract
A network architecture facilitates the monitoring and control of a number of storage systems (e.g., arrays) by one or more clients. In particular, the network architecture includes at least one storage management server, connected between the storage systems and a number of clients, for providing operation status information associated with the storage systems as well as storage connectivity devices to at least one of the clients.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A network architecture for management of a storage area network by at least one client which is independent of the storage area network, the network architecture comprising:
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a storage system including a plurality of storage devices; a plurality of host computers connected to the storage system through a first communications network, the host computers including corresponding agents for gathering operation status information associated with the storage area network; at least one storage management server in communication with the plurality of host computers via the corresponding agents to retrieve the operation status information, the at least one storage management server being adapted to communicate with the at least one client via a web-based second communications network; and the at least one storage management server providing the operation status information received from the corresponding agents to the at least one client via use of the web-based second communications network and an object request broker in the at least one storage management server for ensuring that the at least one client is able to access the at least one storage management server, wherein the at least one storage management server further provides information relating to an operation status of storage connectivity devices, which connect storage devices to the host computers, based on communications with the agents; and
the at least one storage management server including;a poller for gathering information relating to an operation status of the storage devices and the storage connectivity devices; and a central repository for storing the operation status information; an object server for distributing the information relating to an operation status of the storage devices and storage connectivity devices to the at least one client. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of managing a storage area network by at least one client independent of the storage area network, the storage area network including:
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a storage system including a plurality of storage devices; a plurality of host computers connected to the storage system through a first communication network, each host computer capable of transmitting data to and retrieving data from at least one of the plurality of storage devices; the method comprising; providing a storage management server between the at least one client and the plurality of storage devices, the storage management server being adapted to connect to the at least one client via a web-based second communication network and being in communication with the plurality of host computers via corresponding agents in the host computers; at the storage management server;
i) gathering information relating to an operation status of the plurality of storage devices and the storage connectivity devices based on communications with the corresponding agents, the storage connectivity devices connecting the host computers the storage devices, and ii) storing the operation status information in a central repository;via an object server of the storage management server, distributing the operation status information relating to an operation status of the storage devices and the storage connectivity devices to the at least one client; and wherein the storage management server and the at least one client communicate via an object request broker in the storage management server for ensuring that the at least one client is able to access the storage management server. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification