Virtual array failover
First Claim
1. Apparatus for use in a storage system comprising a fabric having a database that associates Fibre Channel names and Fibre Channel addresses of Fibre Channel ports coupled to it, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of groups of logical units of storage;
at least one physical port coupled to the groups through which the groups can be coupled to a fabric;
each group assigned a unique virtual port address for each physical port to which it is coupled;
a first said group comprising a primary virtual array, the primary virtual array having at least one primary virtual port coupled to the fabric, each primary virtual port having a primary virtual port name and a primary virtual port address;
a second said group comprising a secondary virtual array, the secondary virtual array having one or more secondary virtual ports coupled to the fabric, each secondary virtual port having a secondary virtual port name and a secondary virtual port address;
logic for copying all data resident on the primary virtual array to the secondary virtual array;
logic responsive to a failure for;
replacing the secondary virtual port names with the primary virtual port names;
causing the fabric to update its name server database so that the database associates the primary virtual port names with the secondary virtual port addresses.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Failover is provided between groups of logical units of storage presented as virtual arrays. A primary virtual array has at least one primary virtual port coupled to a fabric, each primary virtual port having a source virtual port name and a source virtual port address. A secondary virtual array has one or more secondary virtual ports coupled to the fabric, each secondary virtual port having a secondary virtual port name and a secondary virtual port address. All data resident on the primary virtual array is copied to the secondary virtual array. If a failure occurs in the primary virtual array, the secondary virtual port names and LUN names and numbers are replaced with the primary virtual port names and LUN names and numbers. The fabric then updates its name server database so that the database associates the primary virtual port names and LUN names and numbers with the secondary virtual port addresses.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. Apparatus for use in a storage system comprising a fabric having a database that associates Fibre Channel names and Fibre Channel addresses of Fibre Channel ports coupled to it, the apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of groups of logical units of storage; at least one physical port coupled to the groups through which the groups can be coupled to a fabric; each group assigned a unique virtual port address for each physical port to which it is coupled; a first said group comprising a primary virtual array, the primary virtual array having at least one primary virtual port coupled to the fabric, each primary virtual port having a primary virtual port name and a primary virtual port address; a second said group comprising a secondary virtual array, the secondary virtual array having one or more secondary virtual ports coupled to the fabric, each secondary virtual port having a secondary virtual port name and a secondary virtual port address; logic for copying all data resident on the primary virtual array to the secondary virtual array; logic responsive to a failure for; replacing the secondary virtual port names with the primary virtual port names; causing the fabric to update its name server database so that the database associates the primary virtual port names with the secondary virtual port addresses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A program product comprising a computer readable medium having embodied therein a computer program for storing data, the computer program for operation in a system comprising:
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a plurality of groups of logical units of storage; at least one physical port coupled to the groups through which the groups can be coupled to a fabric; each group assigned a unique virtual port address for each physical port to which it is coupled; a first said group comprising a primary virtual array, the primary virtual array having at least one primary virtual port coupled to the fabric, each primary virtual port having a primary virtual port name and a primary virtual port address; a second said group comprising a secondary virtual array, the secondary virtual array having one or more secondary virtual ports coupled to the fabric, each secondary virtual port having a secondary virtual port name and a secondary virtual port address;
the program product comprising;logic for copying all data resident on the primary virtual array to the secondary virtual array; logic responsive to a failure indication for; replacing the secondary virtual port names with the primary virtual port names; causing the fabric to update its name server database so that the database associates the primary virtual port names with the secondary virtual port addresses. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for operation in a system comprising:
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a plurality of groups of logical units of storage; at least one physical port coupled to the groups through which the groups can be coupled to a fabric; each group assigned a unique virtual port address for each physical port to which it is coupled; a first said group comprising a primary virtual array, the primary virtual array having at least one primary virtual port coupled to the fabric, each primary virtual port having a primary virtual port name and a primary virtual port address; a second said group comprising a secondary virtual array, the secondary virtual array having one or more secondary virtual ports coupled to the fabric, each secondary virtual port having a secondary virtual port name and a secondary virtual port address;
the method comprising the steps of;copying all data resident on the primary virtual array to the secondary virtual array; in response to a failure indication; replacing the secondary virtual port names with the primary virtual port names; causing the fabric to update its name server database for use by the host(s) so that the database associates the primary virtual port names with the secondary virtual port addresses. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification