Common Information Model (CIM) translation to and from Windows Management Interface (WMI) in client server environment

• US 6,971,090 B1
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Gruttadauria, Brian R., Bauer, Andreas L., Lazar, Gregory W., Desai, Munish T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatri, Anil
• Application Number:
  US09/877,287
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 717/100, 717/101, 717/108, 717114-116, 717/170, 717/177, 717120-122, 717124-128, 717/136, 709/223, 709/230, 709200-203
• US Class Current: 717/136
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• 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

A protocol translator for use in a storage system or storage area network for translating between incompatible communication protocols. Apparatus, methodology, computer program product and interface embodiments are disclosed, and code examples are provided, for translating between Common Information Model/eXtensible Markup Language/Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (CIM/XML/HTTP) and Windows Management Interface/Distributed Component Object Model (WMI/DCOM) communication protocols for distributed management software used within a storage system or storage area network in a client server environment.

Claims

1. In a storage system employed in a client-server network, an interface operating between a first protocol and a second protocol, said storage system including object manager means operative in accordance with said second protocol, said interface comprising:

means for receiving first information in accordance with said first protocol from said client;

means, operatively coupled to said receiving means, for determining that said first protocol is acceptable to allow further processing of said first information in said system;

means, responsive to operation of said determining means, for translating said first information into second information compatible with said second protocol;

means for forwarding said second information to said object manager means and, responsive to said object manager means managing said second information, for receiving a managed response thereto from said object manager means;

means for reverse-translating said managed response into an equivalent response compatible with said first protocol; and

,

means for forwarding said equivalent response to said client.

2. The interface of claim 1 and wherein said first protocol is CIM/XML/HTTP.

3. The interface of claim 2 and wherein said second protocol is WMI/DCOM.

4. The interface of claim 3 and wherein said determining means further comprises:

means for establishing a plurality of acceptable protocols;

means for comparing said first protocol against said plurality of acceptable protocols seriatim until said first protocol matches one of said plurality of protocols; and

,

means, responsive to operation of said comparing means for allowing said further processing.

5. The interface of claim 1 and wherein said determining means further comprises:

means for establishing a plurality of acceptable protocols;

means for comparing said first protocol against said plurality of acceptable protocols seriatim until said first protocol matches one of said plurality of protocols; and

,

means, responsive to operation of said comparing means for allowing said further processing.

6. The interface of claim 5 and wherein the result of said operation of said comparing means not obtaining a match is that said further processing is not allowed.

7. The interface of claim 5 and wherein said plurality of protocols includes:

CIM/XML/HTTP and SOAP/HTTP/WBEM.

8. The interface of claim 7 and wherein said translating means includes said reverse-translating means.

9. The interface of claim 1 and wherein said translating means includes said reverse-translating means.

10. The method of claim 1 and wherein said determining further comprises:

establishing a plurality of acceptable protocols;

comparing said first protocol against said plurality of acceptable protocols seriatim until said first protocol matches one of said plurality of protocols; and

,

allowing-said further processing.

11. The method of claim 10 and wherein the result of said operation of said comparing not obtaining a match is that said further processing is not allowed.

12. The method of claim 10 and wherein said plurality of protocols includes:

CIM/XML/HTTP and SOAP/HTTP/WBEM.

13. The method of claim 12 and wherein said translating includes said reverse-translating.

14. In a storage system employed in a client-server network, a method for interfacing between a first protocol and a second protocol comprising:

receiving first information in accordance with said first protocol from said client;

determining that said first protocol is acceptable to allow further processing of said first information in said system;

translating, in response to said determining, said first information into second information compatible with said second protocol;

establishing an object manager operative in accordance with said second protocol;

forwarding said second information to said object manager and, responsive to said object manager managing said second information, receiving a managed response thereto from said object manager;

reverse-translating said managed response into an equivalent response compatible with said first protocol; and

,

forwarding said equivalent response to said client.

15. The method of claim 14 and wherein said first protocol is CIM/XML/HTTP.

16. The method of claim 15 and wherein said second protocol is WMI/DCOM.

17. The method of claim 16 and wherein said determining further comprises:

establishing a plurality of acceptable protocols;

comparing said first protocol against said plurality of acceptable protocols seriatim until said first protocol matches one of said plurality of protocols; and

,

allowing said further processing.

18. The method of claim 14 and wherein said translating includes said reverse-translating.

19. A computer program product for use on a computer to be operated within a client-server network employing a storage area network including at least one storage system, said computer program product functioning to interface between a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol and comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, said computer readable program code comprising:

program code for receiving first information in accordance with said first protocol from said client;

program code for determining that said first protocol is acceptable to allow further processing of said first information in said system;

program code, responsive to execution of said program code for determining, for translating said first information into second information compatible with said second protocol;

program code for establishing an object manager operative in accordance with said second protocol;

program code for forwarding said second information to said object manager and, responsive to said object manager managing said second information, receiving a managed response thereto from said object manager;

program code for reverse-translating said managed response into an equivalent response compatible with said first protocol; and

,

program code for forwarding said equivalent response to said client.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 and wherein said first protocol is CIM/XML/HTTP.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 and wherein said second protocol is WMI/DCOM.

22. The computer program product of claim 21 and wherein said program code for determining further comprises:

program code for establishing a plurality of acceptable protocols;

program code for comparing said first protocol against said plurality of acceptable protocols seriatim until said first protocol matches one of said plurality of protocols; and

,

program code for allowing said further processing.

23. The computer program product of claim 19 and wherein said program code for determining further comprises:

program code for establishing a plurality of acceptable protocols;

program code for comparing said first protocol against said plurality of acceptable protocols seriatim until said first protocol matches one of said plurality of protocols; and

,

program code for allowing said further processing.

24. The computer program product of claim 23 and wherein the result of operation of said program code for comparing not obtaining a match is that said further processing is not allowed.

25. The computer program product of claim 23 and wherein said plurality of protocols includes:

CIM/XML/HTTP and SOAP/HTTP/WBEM.

26. The computer program product of claim 25 and wherein said program code for translating includes said program code for reverse-translating.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 and wherein said first information translator for translating includes said reverse translator for reverse-translating.

28. The computer program product of claim 19 and wherein said program code for translating includes said program code for reverse-translating.

29. Apparatus to be operated within a client-server network employing a storage area network including at least one storage system, said apparatus functioning to interface between a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol and comprising:

first information receiver for receiving first information in accordance with said first protocol from said client;

first protocol acceptor for determining that said first protocol is acceptable to allow further processing of said first information in said system;

first information translator, responsive to operation of said first protocol acceptor, for translating said first information into second information compatible with said second protocol;

an object manager operative in accordance with said second protocol;

forwarding and receiving apparatus for forwarding said second information to said object manager and, responsive to said object manager managing said second information, receiving a managed response thereto from said object manager;

reverse translator for reverse-translating said managed response into an equivalent response compatible with said first protocol; and

,

equivalent response forwarder for forwarding said equivalent response to said client.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 and wherein said first protocol is CIM/XML/HTTP.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 and wherein said second protocol is WMI/DCOM.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 and wherein said first protocol acceptor for determining further comprises:

plurality of protocols acceptor for establishing a plurality of acceptable protocols;

a comparator for comparing said first protocol against said plurality of acceptable protocols seriatim until said first protocol matches one of said plurality of protocols; and

,

further processing apparatus for allowing said further processing.

33. The apparatus of claim 29 and wherein said first protocol acceptor for determining further comprises:

plurality of protocols acceptor for establishing a plurality of acceptable protocols;

a comparator for comparing said first protocol against said plurality of acceptable protocols seriatim until said first protocol matches one of said plurality of protocols; and

,

further processing apparatus for allowing said further processing.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 and wherein the result of operation of said comparator not obtaining a match is that said further processing is not allowed.

35. The apparatus of claim 29 and wherein said first information translator for translating includes said reverse translator for reverse-translating.

36. The apparatus of claim 33 and wherein said plurality of protocols includes:

CIM/XML/HTTP and SOAP/HTTP/WBEM.

37. In a client-server network, an interface operating between a first protocol and a second protocol, said server including an object manager operative in accordance with said second protocol, said interface configured to:

receive first information in accordance with said first protocol from said client;

determine, in response to receiving said first information, that said first protocol is acceptable to allow further processing of said first information in said server;

translate, in response to determining said first protocol acceptable, said first information into second information compatible with said second protocol;

forward said second information to said object manager and, responsive to said object manager managing said second information, receive a managed response thereto from said object manager;

reverse-translate said managed response into an equivalent response compatible with said first protocol; and

,

forward said equivalent response to said client.

38. In a client-server network, a method for interfacing between a first protocol and a second protocol comprising:

receiving first information in accordance with said first protocol from said client;

determining that said first protocol is acceptable to allow further processing of said first information in said server;

translating, in response to determining that said first protocol is acceptable, said first information into second information compatible with said second protocol;

establishing an object manager operative in accordance with said second protocol;

forwarding said second information to said object manager and, responsive to said object manager managing said second information, receiving a managed response thereto from said object manager;

reverse-translating said managed response into an equivalent response compatible with said first protocol; and

,

forwarding said equivalent response to said client.

39. A computer program product for use on a computer to be operated within a client-server network, said computer program product functioning to interface between a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol and comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, said computer readable program code comprising:

program code for receiving first information in accordance with said first protocol from said client;

program code for determining that said first protocol is acceptable to allow further processing of said first information in said server;

program code, responsive to execution of said program code for determining, for translating said first information into second information compatible with said second protocol;

program code for establishing an object manager operative in accordance with said second protocol;

program code for forwarding said second information to said object manager and, responsive to said object manager managing said second information, receiving a managed response thereto from said object manager;

program code for reverse-translating said managed response into an equivalent response compatible with said first protocol; and

,

program code for forwarding said equivalent response to said client.