Apparatus and method for controlling I/O between different interface standards and method of identifying the apparatus

• US 7,328,298 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2002
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Kamakura, Sanae, Iwatani, Sawao
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, RAYMOND NGAN
• Application Number:
  US10/218,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20030041207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,000 Days
• Field of Search: 710 8- 19, 710 36- 38, 710 62- 64, 710/72, 710300-317, 710 1- 3, 711111-114, 711149-150, 711/3, 711/163, 711/167, 713 1- 2, 713/100, 714 6- 9, 714/25, 714 43- 44
• US Class Current: 710/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/122 where hardware performs an I/O function other than control of data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/128 for dedicated transfers to a network for protocol converters G06F13/387

Abstract

According to the present invention, an input/output controller connected between an interface connection port of an information processing apparatus and a network device so as to connect the information processing apparatus and a network includes an identification number obtaining part obtaining an identification number unique to the network device, a port number obtaining part obtaining a port number from the interface connection port of the information processing apparatus, and an identification information generation part generating identification information on the network from the identification number and the port number.

Claims

1. An input/output controller connected between an interface connection port of an information processing apparatus according to a first interface standard and an interface according to a second interface standard different from the first interface standard on a network, the input/output controller comprising:

an identification number obtaining part configured to obtain an identification number unique to the information processing apparatus;

a port number obtaining part configured to obtain a port number from the interface connection port of the information processing apparatus; and

an identification information generation part configured to automatically generate identification information on the network from the identification number and the port number.

2. A method of identifying an input/output controller connected between an interface connection port of an information processing apparatus according to a first interface standard and an interface according to a second interface standard different from the first interface standard on a network, wherein:

an identification number identifying the information processing apparatus and a port number identifying the interface connection port are obtained;

identification information on the network is automatically generated from the identification number and the port number; and

the input/output controller is identified based on the identification information.

3. An input/output controller having a plurality of connection ports according to a first interface standard for connection with a network, the input/output controller comprising:

a port number storage part configured to store port numbers identifying the connection ports; and

a port number transfer part configured to supply an information processing apparatus connected to one of the connection ports with the port number of the one of the connection ports stored in said port number storage part at a request of the information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus being connected to an interface according to a second interface standard different from the first interface standard.

4. An input/output controller comprising:

a first input/output control part,

the first input/output control part comprising;

a plurality of connection ports according to a first interface standard; and

a port number storage part configured to store port numbers identifying the connection ports; and

a second input/output control part connected between one of said connection ports of said first input/output control part and an interface according to a second interface standard different from the first interface standard on a network, the second input/output control part being configured to obtain the port number of the one of said connection ports to which the second input/output control part is connected, obtain an identification number unique to the first input/output control part, automatically generate identification information on the network from the port number and the identification number, and perform communications via the network based on the identification information.

5. An input/output controller performing access control based on a reference one of logic unit numbers, the input/output controller comprising:

a detection part configured to detect access to a device associated with the reference logic unit number when the device is prevented from operating normally or is disconnected; and

a response part configured to make a normal response when said detection part detects the access to the device, allowing subsequent logic unit number recognition.

6. An input/output control method of controlling access to a device based on a reference one of logic unit numbers, wherein:

a normal response is made when access to the device associated with the reference logic unit number is detected when the device of the reference logic unit number is prevented from operating normally or is disconnected, allowing subsequent logic unit number recognition.

7. An input/output controller connected between an interface connection port of an interface unit according to SCSI and an interface to an information processing apparatus according to fiber channel on a network, the input/output controller comprising:

an identification number obtaining part configured to obtain an identification number unique to the interface unit;

a port number obtaining part configured to obtain a port number of the interface connection port of the interface unit; and

an identification information generation part configured to automatically generate identification information on the network from the identification number and the port number.

8. A method of identifying an input/output controller connected between an interface connection port of an interface unit according to SCSI and an interface according to fiber channel on a network, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining an identification number identifying the interface unit and a port number identifying the connection port;

(b) automatically generating identification information on the network from the identification number and the port number; and

(c) identifying the input/output controller based on the identification information.

9. An input/output controller having a plurality of connection ports according to SCSI for connection with a network, the input/output controller comprising:

a pod number storing part configured to store port numbers identifying the connection pods; and

a pod number transfer part configured to supply, at a request of a device connected to one of the connection ports, the port number of the one of the connection pods from said port number storing part to the device, the device being connected to an interface according to fiber channel.

10. An input/output controller comprising:

a first control part,

the first control part comprising;

a plurality of connection ports according to SCSI; and

a port number storage part configured to store port numbers identifying the connection ports; and

a second control part connected between one of said connection ports of said first control part and an interface according to fiber channel on a network,

the second control part comprising;

an identification number obtaining part configured to obtain an identification number unique to said first control part;

a port number obtaining part configured to obtain the port number of the one of said connection ports to which said second control part is connected;

an identification information generation pad configured to automatically generate identification information on the network from the obtained identification number and port number; and

a communication part configured to perform communications via the network based on the identification information.