Method and apparatus for a storage controller to dynamically determine the usage of onboard I/O ports
First Claim
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1. A method of identifying a device interconnected to a port of a storage system controller, comprising:
- (a) scanning by said storage system controller a network external to said storage system controller through said port of the storage system controller to determine whether any devices are connected to said first port of said storage system controller;
(b) in response to said scanning, determining by said storage system controller that at least one device is connected to said first port of said storage system controller;
(c) probing by said storage system controller said at least one device that is connected to said first port of said storage system controller;
(d) in response to said probing, determining by said storage system controller capabilities of said at least one device connected to said first port of said storage system controller;
(e) in response to said determining capabilities and based on said determined capabilities, determining, by said storage system controller, a proper operating mode for said first port of said storage system controller;
(f) in response to said determining a proper operating mode for said first port of said storage system controller, first setting, by said storage system controller, an operating mode for said first port of said storage system controller, wherein said first port of said storage system controller is set to one of an initiator if every one of said devices has target device capabilities, a target if every one of said devices has initiator device capabilities, and a target/initiator if less than all devices have target device capabilities and at least one device has target device capabilities, wherein prior to said first setting an operating mode for said first port of said storage system controller a proper operating mode for said first port of said storage system controller is undetermined, and wherein said proper operating mode of said first port of said storage system controller is set after said first port of said storage system controller is interconnected to said at least one device, wherein steps (a) through (f) are iteratively performed periodically; and
(g) after said first setting an operating mode of said first port of said storage system controller, transmitting data between said first port of said storage system controller and said at least one device according to the set mode.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for automatically and dynamically identifying capabilities of devices connected to a storage system controller port and setting operating parameters of that port are described. In particular, a storage system controller administers scanning and probing functions to determine capabilities of devices connected to a given port. Based on the determined capabilities of all or a subset of the devices connected to that port, an operating parameter is assigned to that port.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of identifying a device interconnected to a port of a storage system controller, comprising:
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(a) scanning by said storage system controller a network external to said storage system controller through said port of the storage system controller to determine whether any devices are connected to said first port of said storage system controller; (b) in response to said scanning, determining by said storage system controller that at least one device is connected to said first port of said storage system controller; (c) probing by said storage system controller said at least one device that is connected to said first port of said storage system controller; (d) in response to said probing, determining by said storage system controller capabilities of said at least one device connected to said first port of said storage system controller; (e) in response to said determining capabilities and based on said determined capabilities, determining, by said storage system controller, a proper operating mode for said first port of said storage system controller; (f) in response to said determining a proper operating mode for said first port of said storage system controller, first setting, by said storage system controller, an operating mode for said first port of said storage system controller, wherein said first port of said storage system controller is set to one of an initiator if every one of said devices has target device capabilities, a target if every one of said devices has initiator device capabilities, and a target/initiator if less than all devices have target device capabilities and at least one device has target device capabilities, wherein prior to said first setting an operating mode for said first port of said storage system controller a proper operating mode for said first port of said storage system controller is undetermined, and wherein said proper operating mode of said first port of said storage system controller is set after said first port of said storage system controller is interconnected to said at least one device, wherein steps (a) through (f) are iteratively performed periodically; and (g) after said first setting an operating mode of said first port of said storage system controller, transmitting data between said first port of said storage system controller and said at least one device according to the set mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A storage system controller for use in a storage device network, comprising:
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(a) a first port; (b) a processor, comprising; (i) a scanning function executing on the processor of the storage system controller that scans the first port of the storage system controller; and (ii) an identification function running on the processor of the storage system controller that probes devices connected to the first port of the storage system controller, wherein the identification function determines operating parameters of the first port of the storage system controller based on capabilities of the devices connected to the first port of the storage system controller, wherein in response to the determination by the identification function an operating mode for the first port of the storage system controller is set to one of an initiator if every one of said devices has target device capabilities, a target if every one of said devices has initiator device capabilities, and a target/initiator if less than all devices have target device capabilities and at least one device has target device capabilities, wherein the scanning function and identification function are iteratively performed periodically, and wherein after the operating mode for the first port of the storage system controller is set by the storage system controller the storage system controller uses the first port of the storage system controller in connection with the storage and retrieval of data to and from at least one of the devices connected to the first port of the storage system controller. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A storage system, comprising:
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a first storage system controller, including; (a) at least a first port; (b) a means for scanning said at least a first port; (c) a means for probing and identifying capabilities of devices connected to said at least a first port; (d) a means for determining an appropriate operating parameter of the at least a first port of said first storage system controller based on the identified capabilities of devices connected to said at least a first port of said first storage system controller; and (e) a means for assigning, by the first storage system controller, said determined appropriate operating parameter to said at least a first port of said first storage system controller, wherein said first port of said first storage system controller is assigned to be one of an initiator port if every one of said devices has target device capabilities, a target port if every one of said devices has initiator device capabilities, and a target/initiator port if less than all of said devices has target device capabilities and at least one of said devices has target device capabilities, wherein said means for scanning, said means for probing and identifying, said means for determining, and said means for assigning are iteratively performed periodically, and wherein after an operating parameter is assigned to said first port of said first storage system controller data is passed between said first port of said first storage system controller and at least one of said devices connected to said first port of said first storage system controller. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification