Apparatus, system, and method for automatically verifying access to a multipathed target at boot time

• US 8,001,267 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Vojnovich, Theodore Brian, Cors, Josep, Dunham, Scott Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan; Wing F
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOO, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US11/300,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20070143583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,070 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/238
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0727 in a storage system, e.g. in a DASD or network based storage system drivers for digital recording or reproducing units G06F3/06; circuits for error detection or correction within digital recording or reproducing units G11B20/18; 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], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0751 Error or fault detection not based on redundancy power supply failures G06F1/30; network fault management H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2007 using redundant communication media
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/201 between storage system components
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2056 by mirroring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2089 Redundant storage control functionality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0632 by initialisation or re-initialisation of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0635 by changing the path, e.g. traffic rerouting, path reconfiguration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• 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 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for automatically verifying access to a multipathed target at boot time. The apparatus is provided with a logic unit containing a plurality of modules configured to functionally execute the necessary steps of identifying a plurality of paths to a target device, automatically selecting one of the plurality of paths to the target device, and verifying access on at least one path to the target device. Beneficially, the disclosed embodiments of the apparatus, system, and method reduce false errors during the boot cycle, improve reliability of the multipathed network, simplify traffic load balancing, and provide for topology mapping for troubleshooting and network metrics. The disclosed embodiments provide a means for verifying multipathed targets automatically, without requiring user assistance, intervention, or interaction.

Claims

1. An apparatus to automatically verify access to a multipathed target at boot time, the apparatus comprising:

a processor and a memory connected to the processor, the memory comprising;

an identification module configured to identify a plurality of network paths from a computing device to a target data storage device during a Basic Input Output Software (“

BIOS”

) boot process of the computing device, each of the plurality of network paths providing a path to the target data storage device such that access to target data stored on the target data storage device is available via each of the plurality of network paths, wherein the target data storage device is a remote storage device and wherein the computing device is configured to remotely boot an operating system from the remote target data storage device across one of the plurality of identified network paths, the identification module further configured to retrieve a data structure containing identification information in response to initiation of the BIOS boot process;

a selection module configured to automatically select at least one of the plurality of network paths to the target data storage device during the BIOS boot process; and

a verification module configured to verify access on at least one selected network path to the target data storage device during the BIOS boot process and to abandon an attempt to connect to the target data storage device in response to the passing of a predetermined timeout period, wherein the selection module is further configured to select a new network path to the target data storage device for verification in response to a failed attempt to verify access to the target data storage device using a previously selected network path.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the verification module is configured to verify access to the target data storage device via the new network path to the target device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the identification module further comprises a receive module configured to receive the data structure containing the identification information from a remote configuration manager.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the identification information further comprises at least one of an Internet Protocol (“

IP”

) address, a communication port identifier, an iSCSI name, a login identifier, and a password for the target data storage device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the identification module further comprises a wizard module configured to identify and automatically generate a data structure containing identification information for a plurality of target data storage devices.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the identification module is further configured to identify target paths independently of the operation status of a computing device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a storage module configured to store the data structure containing identification information in a nonvolatile storage location.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selection module further comprises a retrieving module configured to retrieve the data structure containing identification information from a nonvolatile storage location in response to initiation of the BIOS boot process.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the retrieving module is further configured to retrieve the data structure containing iSCSI target identification information from the nonvolatile storage location in response to starting an iSCSI initiator process.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selection module is further configured to select a new target data storage device for verification in response to a failed attempt to connect to a previous target data storage device.

11. A system to automatically verify access to a multipathed target at boot time, the system comprising:

a remote configuration manager configured to automatically generate a data structure containing identification information for a plurality of network paths between a computing device and one or more target data storage devices;

a computing device configured to

identify a plurality of network paths from the computing device to a target data storage device based on the data structure during a Basic Input Output Software (“

BIOS”

) boot process of the computing device, each of the plurality of network paths providing a unique path to the target data storage device such that access to target data stored on the target storage device is available via each of the plurality of network paths, wherein the target data storage device is a remote storage device and wherein the computing device is configured to remotely boot an operating system from the remote target data device across one of the plurality of identified network paths;

retrieve the data structure containing identification information in response to initiation of the BIOS boot process;

automatically select at least one of the plurality of network paths to the target data storage device during the BIOS boot process, and

verify access on at least one selected network path to the target device during the BIOS boot process;

abandon an attempt to connect to the target data storage device in response to the passing of a predetermined timeout period; and

a target data storage device in communication with the computing device, wherein the selection module is further configured to select a new network path to the target data storage device for verification in response to a failed attempt to verify access to the target data storage device using a previously selected network path.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the computing device is further configured to verify access to the target data storage device through an internet SCSI (“

iSCSI”

) communication link.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote configuration manager further comprises a configuration wizard configured to identify and automatically generate the data structure containing identification information for a plurality of target data storage devices.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote configuration manager is further configured to identify and automatically generate the data structure containing identification information for a plurality of data communication network paths between the computing device and a plurality of communication ports on a target data storage device.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote configuration manager is further configured to identify and automatically generate the data structure containing identification information for a plurality of data communication network paths between the computing device and a plurality target data storage devices, wherein the target data storage devices are configured to mirror data.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote configuration manager is further configured to communicate the data structure containing identification information on an out of band communication link for storage in a nonvolatile storage location on the computing device.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the computing device is further configured to automatically select a new target data storage device for verification in response to a failed attempt to connect to a previous target data storage device.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein at least two network paths between the computing device and the target data storage device are verified during the boot process of the computing device in preparation for data communication load balancing on at least two network paths.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote configuration manager is further configured to generate a mapping of multiple network paths between the computing device and one or more target data storage devices, and is configured to automatically generate a set of data structures containing the mapping information.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform an operation to automatically verify access to a multipathed target at boot time, the operation comprising:

identifying a plurality of network paths from a computing device to a target data storage device during a Basic Input Output Software (“

BIOS”

) boot process of the computing device, each of the plurality of network paths providing a unique path to the target data storage device such that access to target data stored on the target data storage device is available via each of the plurality of network paths, wherein the target data storage device is a remote storage device and wherein the computing device is configured to remotely boot an operating system from the remote target data storage device across one of the plurality of identified network paths;

retrieving a data structure containing identification information in response to initiation of the BIOS boot process;

automatically selecting at least one of the plurality of network paths to the target data storage device during the BIOS boot process;

verifying access on at least one the selected network path to the target storage device during the BIOS boot process;

abandoning an attempt to connect to the target data storage device in response to the passing of a predetermined timeout period; and

selecting a new network path to the target data storage device for verification in response to a failed attempt to verify access to the target data storage device using a previously selected network path.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 20, further configured to verify access to the target data storage device during an internet SCSI (“

iSCSI”

) driver initialization portion of a boot operation.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions further comprise an operation to use a configuration wizard on a remote configuration manager to identify and automatically generate the data structure containing identification information for a plurality of target data storage devices.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions further comprise an operation to receive the data structure containing identification information from a remote configuration manager and store the data structure in a nonvolatile storage location.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the identification information further comprises at least one of an Internet Protocol (“

IP”

) address, a communication port identifier, a iSCSI name, a login identifier, and a password for the target device.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, further comprising retrieving the data structure containing identification information from the nonvolatile storage location in response to initiation of the BIOS boot process.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the verification operation further comprises a retry operation configured to retry an attempt to connect to the target data storage device a predetermined number of times before declaring a failure to connect.

27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the instructions further comprise an operation to automatically select a new network path to the target data storage device for verification in response to a failed attempt to connect to a previous network path.

28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the instructions further comprise an operation to produce an error message in response to the verification operation failing to connect to the target data storage device.

29. A method for automatically verifying access to a multipathed target at boot time, the method comprising:

identifying a plurality of network paths from a computing device to a target data storage device during a Basic Input Output Software (“

BIOS”

) boot process of the computing device, each of the plurality of network paths providing a unique path to the target data storage device such that access to target data stored on the target data storage device is available via each of the plurality of network paths, the target data storage device comprising two or more mirrored data storage devices, the mirrored data storage devices storing substantially redundant data, each identified network path corresponding to a path between the computing device and a distinct mirrored data storage device, wherein the target data storage device is a remote storage device and wherein the computing device is configured to remotely boot an operating system from the remote target data storage device across one of the plurality of identified network paths;

retrieving a data structure containing identification information in response to initiation of the BIOS boot process;

automatically selecting at least one of the plurality of network paths to the target data storage device during the BIOS boot process; and

verifying access on at least one selected network path to the target data storage device during the BIOS boot process and abandoning an attempt to connect to the target data storage device in response to the passing of a predetermined timeout period, and selecting a new network path to the target data storage device for verification in response to a failed attempt to verify access to the target data storage device using a previously selected network path.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein verifying further comprises automatically verifying access to a peripheral internet SCSI (“

iSCSI”

) target data storage device on at least one of a plurality of iSCSI paths.

31. A method for providing a service for automatically verifying access to a multipathed target at boot time to a customer, the method comprising:

remotely identifying a plurality of network paths between a client computing device and a target data storage device during a Basic Input Output Software (“

BIOS”

) boot process of the computing device, each of the plurality of network paths providing a unique path to the target data storage device such that access to target data stored on the target data storage device is available via each of the plurality of network paths, wherein the target data storage device is a remote storage device and wherein the computing device is configured to remotely boot an operating system from the remote target data storage device across one of the plurality of identified network paths;

retrieve a data structure containing identification information in response to initiation of the BIOS boot process;

automatically selecting one or more of the plurality of network paths during the BIOS boot process;

verifying access to the target data storage device via one or more of the selected network paths during the BIOS boot process;

abandoning an attempt to connect to the target data storage device in response to the passing of a predetermined timeout period; and

returning the status of the selected network paths to the client computing device during the boot process of the client computing device.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein verifying further comprises automatically verifying access to a peripheral internet SCSI (“

iSCSI”

) target data storage device on at least one of a plurality of iSCSI paths.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein remotely identifying a plurality of network paths between a client computing device and a target data storage device is performed while the client computing device is operational, wherein the network paths identified are verified in response to rebooting the client computing device.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the method further comprises automatically selecting a new network path to the target data storage device for verification in response to a failed attempt to connect to a previous network path.