System and method for managing zone integrity in a storage area network
First Claim
1. A method for managing zone integrity in a storage area network, wherein the storage area network includes a switched fabric having a logical zoning that partitions the switched fabric into one or more zones that belong to one or more zone sets, the method comprising:
- selecting at least one of the one or more zones associated with the switched fabric, wherein the selected zone has one or more members;
creating one or more member definitions to uniquely identify the one or more members in the selected zone based on attributes uniquely associated with the one or more member, wherein the one or more member definitions remain bound to the one or more members regardless of changes to a physical topology associated with the switched fabric; and
converting the selected zone into a topologically dynamic zone, wherein converting the selected zone into the topologically dynamic zone includes;
clearing the one or more members from the selected zone; and
replacing the one or more members cleared from the selected zone with the one or more member definitions to populate the selected zone and convert the selected zone into the topologically dynamic zone, wherein having the one or more member definitions in the topologically dynamic zone remain bound to the one or more members enables relocating the one or more members within the physical topology associated with the switched fabric without affecting the logical zoning that partitions the switched fabric.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for managing zone integrity in a storage area network (SAN) is provided. A SAN fabric may be partitioned into one or more zone sets, where each zone set may include a plurality of zones. A topology of any of the zones may be modified, without compromising zone integrity, by converting the zone into a topologically dynamic zone. The zone may be converted by redefining members of the zone in terms of their respective member definitions, which may be specific attributes used to identify the members in the fabric. As such, zone integrity may be preserved when a topology of any member of the converted zone is modified.
5 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for managing zone integrity in a storage area network, wherein the storage area network includes a switched fabric having a logical zoning that partitions the switched fabric into one or more zones that belong to one or more zone sets, the method comprising:
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selecting at least one of the one or more zones associated with the switched fabric, wherein the selected zone has one or more members; creating one or more member definitions to uniquely identify the one or more members in the selected zone based on attributes uniquely associated with the one or more member, wherein the one or more member definitions remain bound to the one or more members regardless of changes to a physical topology associated with the switched fabric; and converting the selected zone into a topologically dynamic zone, wherein converting the selected zone into the topologically dynamic zone includes; clearing the one or more members from the selected zone; and replacing the one or more members cleared from the selected zone with the one or more member definitions to populate the selected zone and convert the selected zone into the topologically dynamic zone, wherein having the one or more member definitions in the topologically dynamic zone remain bound to the one or more members enables relocating the one or more members within the physical topology associated with the switched fabric without affecting the logical zoning that partitions the switched fabric. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions for managing zone integrity in a storage area network, wherein the storage area network includes a switched fabric having a logical zoning that partitions the switched fabric into one or more zones that belong to one or more zone sets, wherein executing the computer-executable instructions on a processing device causes the processing device to:
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select at least one of the one or more zones associated with the switched fabric, wherein the selected zone has one or more members; create one or more member definitions to uniquely identify the one or more members in the selected zone based on attributes uniquely associated with the one or more member, wherein the one or more member definitions remain bound to the one or more members regardless of changes to a physical topology associated with the switched fabric; and convert the selected zone into a topologically dynamic zone, wherein to convert the selected zone into the topologically dynamic zone, the computer-executable instructions further cause the processing device to; clear the one or more members from the selected zone; and replace the one or more members cleared from the selected zone with the one or more member definitions to populate the selected zone and convert the selected zone into the topologically dynamic zone, wherein having the one or more member definitions in the topologically dynamic zone remain bound to the one or more members enables relocating the one or more members within the physical topology associated with the switched fabric without affecting the logical zoning that partitions the switched fabric. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for managing zone integrity in a storage area network, wherein the storage area network includes a switched fabric having a logical zoning that partitions the switched fabric into one or more zones that belong to one or more zone sets, the system comprising one or more processing devices configured to:
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select at least one of the one or more zones associated with the switched fabric, wherein the selected zone has one or more members; create one or more member definitions to uniquely identify the one or more members in the selected zone based on attributes uniquely associated with the one or more member, wherein the one or more member definitions remain bound to the one or more members regardless of changes to a physical topology associated with the switched fabric; and convert the selected zone into a topologically dynamic zone, wherein to convert the selected zone into the topologically dynamic zone, the one or more processing devices are further configured to; clear the one or more members from the selected zone; and replace the one or more members cleared from the selected zone with the one or more member definitions to populate the selected zone and convert the selected zone into the topologically dynamic zone, wherein having the one or more member definitions in the topologically dynamic zone remain bound to the one or more members enables relocating the one or more members within the physical topology associated with the switched fabric without affecting the logical zoning that partitions the switched fabric. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification