Apparatus for aiding construction of storage area network system and method therefor

• US 7,752,295 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Kenichi, Honmura, Shigeru, Usunaga, Keiko, Ohashi, Hiroki, Kisimoto, Yasushi, Takeuchi, Soichi, Fujimoto, Fumikazu, Tanaka, Hideyuki, Hasegawa, Hideaki, Terai, Sachiko, Iwatani, Sawao, Matsuzaki, Noriaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruckart; Benjamin R
• Application Number:
  US10/952,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20050055428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,105 Days
• Field of Search: 709/221, 709/223, 709/238
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0879 Manual configuration through operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0883 Semiautomatic configuration, e.g. proposals from system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0889 Techniques to speed-up the configuration process
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

When information on a device such as a server, storage, and an FC switch constituting a SNA system is input, these devices are displayed and arranged properly on a screen (S1, S2). When information on a physical path is input by a designer by using this display screen, a virtual SAN system in which the devices are connected by a fiber channel is displayed on the screen (S3). Furthermore, when information on an access path is input by the designer by using the construction image, the access path is additionally displayed on the construction image of the virtual SAN system (S5). Since the construction image of the virtual SAN system is displayed on the screen, the designer can easily create a design drawing while visually checking the SAN system. This can reduce the work load and time required for construction of the SAN system.

Claims

1. A storage area network (SAN) construction aid apparatus in which at least one server having at least one fiber channel port, at least one storage having at least one fiber channel port, and at least one fiber channel switch having a plurality of fiber channel ports are connected by a plurality of fiber channels, comprising:

a first information input device for inputting information concerning each device of the server, the storage and the fiber channel switch that configure the SAN;

a device image display device for causing a display device to display an image indicating each device for which information is input;

a second information input device for inputting, between the images of the devices displayed on the display device, provisional physical connection information indicating a provisional physical connection between the devices;

a SAN configuration information storage device for storing virtual SAN configuration information that includes a configuration image of a virtual SAN configured by the provisional physical connection information and includes the provisional physical connection information based on the information inputted from the first and second information input devices;

a third information input device for inputting, for the virtual SAN configuration image displayed on the display device, provisional logical connection information indicating a provisional logical connection between the devices;

a provisional logical connection command creation device for creating a provisional logical connection command from the input provisional logical connection information;

an actual physical connection information obtaining device for obtaining, via a network that is different from the SAN, actual physical connection information indicating an actual physical connection between the devices from each device of the server, the storage, and the fiber channel switch that constitute an actual SAN on the basis of the virtual SAN configuration information, when a first request is input;

a SAN configuration confirmation device for confirming whether a physical connection relationship of the SAN which has been actually constructed conforms to the provisional physical connection information included in the virtual SAN configuration information, by comparing the obtained actual physical configuration information with the provisional physical connection information included in the stored virtual SAN configuration information;

a confirmation result displaying device for highlighting an unconformed part of the physical connection relationship of the SAN on the basis of a confirmation result according to the SAN configuration confirmation device;

an actual logical connection command creation device for creating an actual logical connection command by changing the provisional logical connection information in the provisional logical connection command into an actual logical connection information on the basis of the obtained actual physical connection information, when a second request is input; and

an actual logical connection command issuing device for issuing the created actual logical connection command to each of the devices that configure the actual SAN, and for reflecting logical connection information set in the virtual SAN in the actual SAN, wherein

the SAN configuration confirmation device obtains a world wide port name (WWPN) of the fiber channel port as the physical connection information from the fiber channel switch constituting the actual SAN, recognizes a device connected to the fiber channel switch on the basis of the obtained WWPN, and confirms on the basis of a result of the recognition, whether the physical connection relationship of the SAN which has been actually constructed conforms to the physical connection information included in the SAN configuration information.

2. A storage area network (SAN) construction aid method which uses a computer for constructing a storage area network in which at least one server having at least one fiber channel port, at least one storage having at least one fiber channel port, and at least one fiber channel switch having a plurality of fiber channel ports are connected by a plurality of fiber channels, comprising:

a first information input process of inputting information concerning each device of the server, the storage and the fiber channel switch that configure the SAN;

a display process of causing a display device to display an image indicating each device for which information is input;

a second information input process of inputting, between the images of the devices displayed on the display device, provisional physical connection information indicating a provisional physical connection between the devices;

a SAN configuration information storage process of storing virtual SAN configuration information that includes a configuration image of a virtual SAN configured by the provisional physical connection information and includes the provisional physical connection information based on the information inputted in the first and second information input processes;

a third information input process of inputting, for the virtual SAN configuration image displayed on the display device, provisional logical connection information indicating a provisional logical connection between the devices;

a provisional logical connection command creating process of creating a provisional logical connection command from the input provisional logical connection information;

an actual physical connection information obtaining process of obtaining, via a network that is different from the SAN, actual physical connection information indicating an actual physical connection between the devices from each device of the server, the storage, and the fiber channel switch that constitute an actual SAN on the basis of the virtual SAN configuration information, when a first request is input;

a SAN configuration confirmation process of confirming whether a physical connection relationship of the SAN which has been actually constructed conforms to the provisional physical connection information included in the virtual SAN configuration information, by comparing the obtained actual physical configuration information with the provisional physical connection information included in the stored virtual SAN configuration information;

a confirmation result displaying process of highlighting an unconformed part of the physical connection relationship of the SAN on the basis of a confirmation result according to the SAN configuration confirmation process;

an actual logical connection command creation process of creating an actual logical connection command by changing the provisional logical connection information in the provisional logical connection command into an actual logical connection information on the basis of the obtained actual physical connection information, when a second request is input; and

an actual logical connection command issuing processing of issuing the created actual logical connection command to each of the devices that configure the actual SAN, and for reflecting logical connection information set in the virtual SAN in the actual SAN, wherein

the SAN configuration confirmation process obtains a world wide port name (WWPN) of the fiber channel Port as the physical connection information from the fiber channel switch constituting the actual SAN, recognizes a device connected to the fiber channel switch on the basis of the obtained WWPN, and confirms on the basis of a result of the recognition, whether the physical connection relationship of the SAN which has been actually constructed conforms to the physical connection information included in the SAN configuration information.

3. A computer readable medium for controlling a computer and for constructing a storage area network (SAN) in which at least one server having at least one fiber channel port, at least one storage having at least one fiber channel port, and at least one fiber channel switch having a plurality of fiber channel ports are connected by a plurality of fiber channels, said medium having stored thereon a process executed by a computer comprising:

a first information input process of inputting information concerning each device of the server, the storage and the fiber channel switch that configure the SAN;

a device image display process of causing a display device to display an image indicating each device for which information is input;

a second information input process of inputting, between the images of the devices displayed on the display device, provisional physical connection information indicating a provisional physical connection between the devices;

a SAN configuration information storage process of storing virtual SAN configuration information that includes a configuration image of a virtual SAN configured by the provisional physical connection information and includes the provisional physical connection information based on the information inputted from the first and second information input processes;

a third information input process of inputting, for the virtual SAN configuration image displayed on the display device, provisional logical connection information indicating a provisional logical connection between the devices;

a provisional logical connection command creation process of creating a provisional logical connection command from the input provisional logical connection information;

an actual physical connection information obtaining process of obtaining, via a network that is different from the SAN, actual physical connection information indicating an actual physical connection between the devices from each device of the server, the storage, and the fiber channel switch that constitute an actual SAN on the basis of the virtual SAN configuration information, when a first request is input;

a SAN configuration confirmation process of confirming whether a physical connection relationship of the SAN which has been actually constructed conforms to the provisional physical connection information included in the virtual SAN configuration information, by comparing the obtained actual physical configuration information with the provisional physical connection information included in the stored virtual SAN configuration information;

a confirmation result displaying process of highlighting an unconformed part of the physical connection relationship of the SAN on the basis of a confirmation result according to the SAN configuration confirmation process;

an actual logical connection command creation process of creating an actual logical connection command by changing the provisional logical connection information in the provisional logical connection command into an actual logical connection information on the basis of the obtained actual physical connection information, when a second request is input; and

an actual logical connection command issuing process of issuing the created actual logical connection command to each of the devices that configure the actual SAN, and for reflecting logical connection information set in the virtual SAN in the actual SAN, wherein

the SAN configuration confirmation process obtains a world wide port name (WWPN) of the fiber channel port as the physical connection information from the fiber channel switch constituting the actual SAN, recognizes a device connected to the fiber channel switch on the basis of the obtained WWPN, and confirms on the basis of a result of the recognition, whether the physical connection relationship of the SAN which has been actually constructed conforms to the physical connection information included in the SAN configuration information.

4. A storage area network (SAN) construction aid apparatus in which at least one server having at least one fiber channel port, at least one storage having at least one fiber channel port, and at least one fiber channel switch having a plurality of fiber channel ports are connected by a plurality of fiber channels, comprising:

a first information input means for inputting information concerning each device of the server, the storage and the fiber channel switch that configure the SAN;

a device image device means for causing a display device to display an image indicating each device for which information is input;

a second information input means for inputting, between the images of the devices displayed on the display device, provisional physical connection information indicating a provisional physical connection between the devices;

a SAN configuration information storage means for storing virtual SAN configuration information that includes a configuration image of a virtual SAN configured by the provisional physical connection information and includes the provisional physical connection information based on the information inputted from the first and second information input means;

a third information input means for inputting, for the virtual SAN configuration image displayed on the display device, provisional logical connection information indicating a provisional logical connection between the devices;

a provisional logical connection command creation means for creating a provisional logical connection command from the input provisional logical connection information;

an actual physical connection information obtaining means for obtaining, via a network that is different from the SAN, actual physical connection information indicating an actual physical connection between the devices from each device of the server, the storage, and the fiber channel switch that constitute an actual SAN on the basis of the virtual SAN configuration information, when a first request is input;

a SAN confirmation means for confirming whether a physical connection relationship of the SAN which has been actually constructed conforms to the provisional physical connection information included in the virtual SAN configuration information, by comparing the obtained actual physical configuration information with the provisional physical connection information included in the stored virtual SAN configuration information;

a confirmation result displaying means for highlighting an unconformed part of the physical connection relationship of the SAN on the basis of a confirmation result according to the SAN configuration confirmation means;

an actual logical connection command creation means for creating an actual logical connection command by changing the provisional logical connection information in the provisional logical connection command into an actual logical connection information on the basis of the obtained actual physical connection information, when a second request is input; and

an actual logical connection command issuing means for issuing the created actual logical connection command to each of the devices that configure the actual SAN, and for reflecting logical connection information set in the virtual SAN in the actual SAN, wherein

the SAN configuration confirmation means obtains a world wide Port name (WWPN) of the fiber channel port as the physical connection information from the fiber channel switch constituting the actual SAN, recognizes a device connected to the fiber channel switch on the basis of the obtained WWPN, and confirms on the basis of a result of the recognition, whether the physical connection relationship of the SAN which has been actually constructed conforms to the physical connection information included in the SAN configuration information.

5. A storage area network (SAN) construction aid apparatus for constructing a storage area network which comprises a first apparatus having at least one fiber channel port, a second apparatus having at least one fiber channel port, and a fiber channel connecting the fiber channel port which the first apparatus has and the fiber channel port which the second apparatus has, further comprising:

a first information input means for inputting information concerning the first apparatus and the second apparatus that configure the SAN;

a device image display means for causing a display device to display an image indicating each apparatus for which information is input;

a second information input means for inputting, between the images of the apparatuses displayed on the display device, provisional physical connection information indicating a provisional physical connection between the apparatuses;

a SAN configuration information storage means for storing virtual SAN configuration information that includes a configuration image of a virtual SAN configured by the provisional physical connection information and includes the provisional physical connection information based on the information inputted from the first and second information input means;

a third information input means for inputting, for the virtual SAN configuration image displayed on the display device, provisional logical connection information indicating a provisional logical connection between the first and second apparatus;

a provisional logical connection command creation means for creating a provisional logical connection command from the input provisional logical connection information;

an actual physical connection information obtaining means for obtaining, via a network that is different from the SAN, actual physical connection information indicating an actual physical connection by the fiber channel between the fiber channel port of the first apparatus and the fiber channel port of the second apparatus that constitute an actual SAN on the basis of the virtual SAN configuration information, when a first request is input;

a SAN configuration confirmation means for confirming whether a physical connection relationship of the SAN which has been actually constructed conforms to the provisional physical connection information included in the virtual SAN configuration information, by comparing the obtained actual physical configuration information with the provisional physical connection information included in the stored virtual SAN configuration information;

a confirmation result displaying means for highlighting an unconformed part of the physical connection relationship of the SAN on the basis of a confirmation result according to the SAN configuration confirmation means;

an actual logical connection command creation means for creating an actual logical connection command by changing the provisional logical connection information in the provisional logical connection command into an actual logical connection information on the basis of the obtained actual physical connection information, when a second request is input; and

an actual logical connection command issuing means for issuing the created actual logical connection command to the first and second apparatus that configure the actual SAN, and for reflecting logical connection information set in the virtual SAN in the actual SAN, wherein

the SAN configuration confirmation means obtains a world wide port name (WWPN) of the fiber channel port as the physical connection information from the fiber channel switch constituting the actual SAN, recognizes a device connected to the fiber channel switch on the basis of the obtained WWPN, and confirms on the basis of a result of the recognition, whether the physical connection relationship of the SAN which has been actually constructed conforms to the physical connection information included in the SAN configuration information.