Storage area network methods and apparatus for validating data from multiple sources
First Claim
1. In a storage area network (SAN) of the type having a plurality of components including one or more digital data processors in communication with one or more storage devices, the improvement comprising:
- a store comprising a plurality of objects, including(i) one or more objects (“
scan”
objects) each representing information gathered from a respective digital data processor,(ii) one or more objects (“
component”
objects) each representing a component of the SAN,(iii) one or more objects (“
relationship”
objects) each representing a relationship between two of the SAN components,where each scan object is associated with and regarding one of the component objects or one of the relationship objects,a discover module, coupled to the store, that validates information gathered from a setected digital data processor regarding any of a selected component or relationship based on a scan object, if any, associated with a component or relationship object, respectively, corresponding to the selected component or relationship.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A storage area network has a plurality of components, such as host digital data processors and storage devices. A store, e.g., resident on a manager digital data processor, contains one or more objects (or other data constructs) that represent information gathered from the hosts, i.e., scans. Further such objects represent components in the SAN and/or relationships between and among those components. A discover engine or other functionality executing on the manager digital data processor validates information gathered from a selected host concerning a selected component or relationship based on a scan object, if any, that is associated with a component object or relationship object, respectively, corresponding to the selected component or relationship.
44 Citations
25 Claims
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1. In a storage area network (SAN) of the type having a plurality of components including one or more digital data processors in communication with one or more storage devices, the improvement comprising:
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a store comprising a plurality of objects, including (i) one or more objects (“
scan”
objects) each representing information gathered from a respective digital data processor,(ii) one or more objects (“
component”
objects) each representing a component of the SAN,(iii) one or more objects (“
relationship”
objects) each representing a relationship between two of the SAN components,where each scan object is associated with and regarding one of the component objects or one of the relationship objects, a discover module, coupled to the store, that validates information gathered from a setected digital data processor regarding any of a selected component or relationship based on a scan object, if any, associated with a component or relationship object, respectively, corresponding to the selected component or relationship. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a storage area network (SAN) of the type having a plurality of components including one or more digital data processor hosts in communication with one or more storage devices, a method of updating a representation of the SAN, comprising:
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collating data regarding the SAN received from at least a scan associated with a scanner executing on one of the digital data processors to identify a selected change, if any, in a component or a relationship in the SAN, identifying scans that previously provided information regarding a SAN component or relationship implicated in the selected change, effecting scanners corresponcting to the identified scans to obtain new data regarding the component and relationship implicated in the change, updating the SAN topology representation to reflect the selected change if the new data obtained by each of the identified scanners confirms the change. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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code enabled to be executed by a system to perform operations, wherein the system has a storage area network (SAN) of the type having a plurality of components including one or more storage devices and one or more digital data processor hosts in communication with one or more storage devices, and wherein the system executed operations comprise updating a representation of the SAN, including; collating data regarding the SAN received from at least a scan associated with a scanner executing on one of the digital data processors to identify a selected change, if any, in a component or a relationship in the SAN, identifying scans that previously provided information regarding a SAN component or relationship implicated in the selected change, effecting scanners corresponding to the identified scans to obtain new data regarding the component and relationship implicated in the change, and updating the SAN topology representation to reflect the selected change if the new data obtained by each of the identified scanners confirms the change. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification