Method for verifying a storage area network configuration

• US 7,817,583 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2003
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Graves, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh; Ayaz R
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, ANDREW CHUNG CHEUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/425,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20040228290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,731 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/351, 370/389, 370/408, 370/255, 370/352, 709/217, 709/223
• US Class Current: 370/257
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies

Abstract

In one embodiment, a map describing a correct configuration attribute for communicatively coupling a storage area network device with another device is accessed. An actual configuration attribute of the storage area network device is requested. The actual configuration attribute of the storage area network device is then compared to the correct configuration of the storage area network device and a result is generated in response to the comparing.

Claims

1. A method for verifying a storage area network configuration comprising:

accessing a map that describes a correct configuration attribute for physically cabling a storage area network device to another device over a storage area network fabric cable, said map including configuration attributes for said storage area network device and for said another device, wherein said map includes a source port ID and destination port ID for said storage area network fabric cable physically cabling said storage area network device to said another device;

requesting an actual configuration attribute from said storage area network device;

comparing said actual configuration attribute with said correct configuration attribute to verify if said storage area network device is physically cabled to said another device over said storage area network fabric cable; and

generating a result in response to said comparing, said result comprising an instruction describing how to change physical cabling of said actual configuration attribute to make it compliant with physical cabling of said correct configuration attribute.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said storage area network device is a storage area network switch and comprising requesting said actual configuration attribute from said storage area network switch.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising determining the identity of a network device that is coupled with said storage area network switch.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said determining comprises identifying said storage area network switch and said network device using their respective World Wide Name (WWN) addresses.

5. The method as recited in claim 3 further comprising:

identifying a communication port on said storage area network switch; and

identifying a world wide name (WWN) associated with said network device to which said communication port on said storage area network switch is communicatively coupled.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said generating comprises generating a pass message when said actual configuration attribute matches said correct configuration attribute.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said generating comprises automatically generating a fail message when said actual configuration attribute does not match said correct configuration attribute.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said accessing, said requesting, said comparing, said generating, and said including are performed automatically.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said storage area network is communicatively coupled with a data center.

10. A data center comprising:

a bus for communicating information;

a processor coupled with said bus for processing said information; and

a computer readable memory coupled with said bus and containing instructions for implementing a method for verifying resource configuration comprising;

accessing a map that describes a valid configuration attribute for physically cabling a storage area network device to another device over a storage area network fabric cable, said map including configuration attributes for said storage area network device and for said another device, wherein said map includes a source port ID and destination port ID for said storage area network fabric cable physically cabling said storage area network device to said another device;

receiving an actual configuration attribute from said storage area network device physically cabled with said data center;

comparing said actual configuration attribute to said corresponding valid configuration attribute described by said map to verify if said storage area network device is physically cabled to said another device over said storage area network fabric cable; and

generating a report describing a result of said comparing, said report comprising an instruction describing how to change physical cabling of said actual configuration attribute to make it compliant with physical cabling of said correct configuration attribute.

11. The data center of claim 10, wherein said actual configuration attribute is received from a storage area network switch.

12. The data center of claim 11, wherein said actual configuration attribute describes a second network device that is communicatively coupled with said storage area network switch.

13. The data center of claim 12, wherein said second network device is identified using a unique world wide name (WWN) address.

14. The data center of claim 10, wherein said report comprises a pass message indicating that said actual configuration attribute matches said corresponding valid configuration attribute.

15. The data center of claim 10, wherein said report comprises a fail message indicating that said actual configuration attribute does not match said corresponding valid configuration attribute.

16. The data center of claim 10, wherein said method for verifying resource configuration is performed automatically.

17. A method for verifying a storage area network configuration comprising:

accessing a map that describes a plurality of valid configuration attributes for physically cabling a storage area network device to another device over a storage area network fabric cable, said map including configuration attributes for said storage area network device and for said another device, wherein said map includes a source port ID and destination port ID for said storage area network fabric cable physically cabling said storage area network device to said another device;

receiving an actual configuration attribute from said storage area network device described in said map;

comparing said actual configuration attribute with said a corresponding valid configuration attribute from said map to verify if said storage area network device is physically cabled to said another device over said storage area network fabric cable; and

generating a report detailing a result of said comparing, said report comprising an instruction describing how to change physical cabling of said actual configuration attribute to make it compliant with physical cabling of said correct configuration attribute.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 further comprising:

contacting a network switch in said storage area network and receiving said actual configuration attribute from said network switch.

19. The method as recited in claim 18 further comprising:

using said actual configuration attribute to identify a communications port on said network switch; and

using said actual configuration attribute to identify a second device of said storage area network that is communicatively coupled with said communications port.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein said network switch and said second network device are separately identified using a unique world wide name (WWN) address.

21. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein said generating comprises generating a pass message when said actual configuration attribute matches said corresponding valid configuration attribute.

22. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein said generating comprises generating a fail message when said actual configuration attribute does not match said corresponding valid configuration attribute.

23. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein said storage area network is communicatively coupled with a data center.