Method, apparatus and program storage device for verifying existence of a redundant fibre channel path
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- maintaining a topology database that stores paths through a network which are available to communicably connect a storage node to a host node; and
verifying by the storage node using the topology database that the storage node has at least two paths to the host node.
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Abstract
A method, apparatus and program storage device for verifying existence of a redundant Fiber Channel path is disclosed. The present invention verifies that a redundant path exists prior to moving the WWNN and WWPN. Thus, if the path being used for Fiber Channel communication is lost, connectivity can be restored when the source of the original connection can access the physical interface where the WWNN and WWPN have been moved.
60 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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maintaining a topology database that stores paths through a network which are available to communicably connect a storage node to a host node; and verifying by the storage node using the topology database that the storage node has at least two paths to the host node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A port adapter for providing a redundant Fibre Channel path, comprising:
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a port, within a storage node and coupled to a Fibre Channel network, a topology database that stores paths through the network that are available to communicably connect the storage node to a host node; and a processor, coupled to the port, the processor configured for detecting a connection change between the storage node and a host node, and verifying using the topology database that the port has at least two such paths to the host node. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A network providing a redundant Fibre Channel path, comprising:
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a local node within a storage device; and a Fibre Channel network coupling the local node and a remote host node, wherein at least one of the local node and the Fibre Channel network includes a first physical interface and a backup physical interface, wherein the backup physical interface further comprises; a port coupled to a Fibre Channel network, and a processor, coupled to the port, the processor configured for detecting a connection change in a Fibre Channel network and verifying the backup physical interface has a path to the host node after the connection change. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A program storage device readable by a processor, the program storage device tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the processor to perform a method for providing a redundant Fibre Channel path, the method comprising:
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maintaining a topology database that stores paths in a Fibre Channel network which are available to communicably connect a storage node to a host node; and verifying by the storage node using the topology database that the storage node has at least two paths to the host node, wherein the processor is included in the storage device or in the Fibre Channel network. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
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49. A device for providing a redundant Fibre Channel path, comprising:
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Means, within a storage node or a Fibre Channel network, for providing a port to the Fibre Channel network, and means, within the storage node or the Fibre Channel network, for processing coupled to the means for providing a port, the means for processing detecting a connection change in a Fibre Channel network and verifying the means for providing a port has a path to a host after the connection change.
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50. A network providing a redundant Fibre Channel path, comprising:
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a local node within a storage device; and a Fibre Channel network coupling the local node and a remote host node, wherein at least one of the local node and the Fibre Channel network includes a first means for providing a physical interface and a second means for providing a backup physical interface, wherein the second means further comprises; means for providing a port to a Fibre Channel network, and means for processing coupled to the means for providing a port, the means for processing detecting a connection change in a Fibre Channel network and verifying the backup physical interface has a path to the host node after the connection change.
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Specification