Method, apparatus, and computer readable medium for providing network storage assignments

• US 7,356,576 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Rabe, Kenneth J
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh; John B.
• Application Number:
  US10/260,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20040064534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,016 Days
• Field of Search: 717/171
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• 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]

Abstract

Network storage assignments are provided by comparing identification information received from a networked computer to identification information stored in association with network storage assignments for a plurality of networked computers. Upon received identification information of the networked computer matching the stored identification information, corresponding network storage assignments are provided to the networked computer.

Claims

1. A method of providing network storage assignments comprising:

storing network storage assignments and corresponding identification information for a plurality of networked computers;

receiving information identifying a computer when software is re-installed on a networked computer;

comparing the received identification information to the stored identification information; and

providing corresponding stored network storage assignments to the computer upon the received identification information matching the stored identification information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the networked storage assignments are stored on a server, connected to the networked computer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the networked storage assignments are stored on a storage management server.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the networked storage assignments are stored in a database.

5. The method of claim 1,wherein the identification information includes an IP address of the computer and a machine name of the computer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification information includes an indication of an operating system of the computer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the provided network storage assignments include LUNs assigned to a computer and corresponding to storage space on at least one disk drive associated with the network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the provided network storage assignments are on the computer after the computer loses previously allocated network storage assignments.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the information identifying a computer is received when storage allocation software is re-installed on the networked computer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the networked storage assignments include logical units of storage (LUNs) assigned to a networked computer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the LUNs assigned to a computer correspond to storage space on at least one disk drive associated with the network.

12. An apparatus, networked to a plurality of computers and at least one storage device, comprising:

a memory storing network storage assignments on the at least one networked storage device and corresponding identification information for the plurality of networked computers; and

a controller (1) receiving information identifying a computer upon software being re-installed on a networked computer, (2) comparing the received identification information to the stored identification information, and (3) providing corresponding network storage assignments to the computer upon the provided identification information matching the stored identification information, wherein the network storage assignments are multiple storage devices for the plurality of networked computers, and the identification information is a unique identifier that remains stored on the computer after an operating system is re-installed on the computer.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the memory stores network storage assignments on the at least one networked storage device and corresponding identification information for the plurality of networked computers in a database.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is a server.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the identification information includes an IP address of the computer and a machine name of the computer.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the identification information includes an IP address of the computer and a machine name of the computer.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the identification information includes an indication of an operating system of the computer.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the identification information includes an indication of an operating system of the computer.

19. A method of providing network storage assignments, comprising:

storing network storage assignments and corresponding identification information for a plurality of networked computers;

receiving information indicating network storage assignments of a computer when the computer is installed on the network and receiving information identifying the computer;

comparing the received identification information and the received information indicating network storage assignments to the stored information and acknowledging the received network storage assignments, if correct; and

providing, if the received network storage assignments are incorrect and upon the received identification information matching the stored identification information, corresponding stored network storage assignments to the computer, and the identification information is a unique identifier that remains stored on the computer after storage allocation software is re-installed on the computer.

20. A computer readable medium including code portions embodied thereon that, when read by a processor, cause the processor to perform a function, comprising:

a first code segment causing the processor to compare identification information received from a networked computer to identification information stored in association with network storage assignments for a plurality of networked computers; and

a second code segment causing the processor to provide corresponding stored network storage assignments to the networked computer upon the received identification information matching stored identification information, wherein the identification information includes an internet protocol (IP) address of the computer and a machine name of the computer.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the identification information includes an indication of an operating system of the computer.

22. A method of providing network storage assignments, comprising:

comparing identification information received from a networked computer to identification information stored in association with network storage assignments for a plurality of networked computers installed on a network; and

providing corresponding stored network storage assignments to the networked computer upon the received identification information matching the stored identification information, wherein the identification information to be compared is received when a computer is installed on the network, and the identification information to be compared is received when software is re-installed on a networked computer.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the provided network storage assignments include LUNs assigned to a computer and corresponding to storage space on at least one disk drive associated with the network.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the identification information includes an IP address of the computer and a machine name of the computer.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the identification information includes an indication of an operating system of the computer.

26. An apparatus, networked to a plurality of computers and at least one storage device, comprising:

storage means for storing network storage assignments for the at least one networked storage device and corresponding identification information for the plurality of networked computers; and

control means for comparing received identification information identifying a computer upon software being re-installed on a networked computer to stored identification information, and for providing corresponding network storage assignments to the computer upon the received identification information matching the stored identification information, wherein the identification information includes an IP address of the computer and a machine name of the computer.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the storage means stores network storage assignments on the at least one networked storage device and corresponding identification information for the plurality of networked computers in a database.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the apparatus is a server.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the network storage assignments are multiple storage devices for the plurality of computers.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the identification information includes an indication of an operating system of the computer.