Method and system for managing clustered and non-clustered storage systems

• US 8,051,113 B1
• Filed: 09/17/2009
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
• Inventors: Shekar, Raja, Kumar, Kartik, Kumar, Ravindra
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali; Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): HASAN, SYED HAROON
• Application Number:
  US12/561,592
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/821
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1435 volume-based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• 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]

Abstract

Method and system for managing a storage environment having a cluster based storage system and a non-cluster based storage system is provided. A management application collects information regarding components of both the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system. A layout having a plurality of data structures is generated and maintained by the management application. The data structures include information regarding the components and their relationships with each other, if any. The layout is used for responding to user requests and presenting an integrated view of the storage environment on a display device with selectable options for selecting the cluster based storage system components and the non-cluster based storage system components.

Claims

1. A machine implemented method for a storage environment having a cluster based storage system and a non-cluster based storage system, comprising:

(a) collecting information regarding a plurality of components of both the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system;

(b) generating a layout having a plurality of data structures for storing information regarding the plurality of components of both the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system;

(c) receiving a client request for information regarding a component of the storage environment;

(d) retrieving a data structure associated with the component of the storage environment;

(e) presenting information regarding the component to the user;

the method further comprising;

using the layout for presenting an integrated view of the storage environment on a display device with selectable options for selecting the cluster based storage system components and the non-cluster based storage system components;

receiving a request for selecting the cluster based storage system;

displaying components and attributes of the cluster based storage system from the integrated view; and

wherein the layout is generated by a management application that maintains relationships between a plurality of physical components and a plurality of logical components for the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for selecting a virtual server from a list of plurality of virtual servers associated with the selected cluster based storage system; and

displaying attributes for the selected virtual server.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for selecting the non-cluster based storage system from the integrated view; and

displaying attributes of the selected non-cluster based storage system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a user is provided with a selectable option to view the physical components and the logical components of the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a management application segregates users of both the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system into different groups.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the management application presents a group wise usage of the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system.

7. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer usable storage medium having computer readable instructions embodied therein for managing a storage environment having a cluster based storage system and a non-cluster based storage system, comprising;

(a) instructions for collecting information regarding a plurality of components of both the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system;

(b) instructions for generating a layout having a plurality of data structures for storing information regarding the plurality of components of both the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system;

(c) instructions for receiving a client request requesting information regarding a component of the storage environment;

(d) instructions for retrieving a data structure associated with the component of the storage environment;

(e) instructions for presenting information regarding the component to the user;

the computer program product further comprising;

instructions for using the layout for presenting an integrated view of the storage environment on a display device with selectable options for selecting the cluster based storage system components and the non-cluster based storage system components;

instructions for receiving a request for selecting the cluster based storage system;

instructions for displaying components and attributes of the cluster based storage system from the integrated view; and

wherein the layout is generated by a management application that maintains relationships between a plurality of physical components and a plurality of logical components for the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, further comprising:

instructions for receiving a request for selecting a virtual server from a list of plurality of virtual servers associated with the selected cluster based storage system; and

instructions for displaying attributes for the selected virtual server.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, further comprising:

instructions for receiving a request for selecting the non-cluster based storage system from the integrated view; and

instructions for displaying attributes of the selected non-cluster based storage system wherein.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein a user is provided with a selectable option to view the physical components and the logical components of the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein a management application segregates users of both the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system into different groups.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the management application presents a group wise usage of the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system.

13. A machine readable storage medium storing executable instructions, which when executed by a machine, causes the machine to manage a storage environment having a cluster based storage system and a non-cluster based storage system, the method comprising:

(a) collecting information regarding a plurality of components of both the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system;

(b) generating a layout having a plurality of data structures for storing information regarding the plurality of components of both the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system;

(c) receiving a client request requesting information regarding a component of the storage environment;

(d) retrieving a data structure associated with the component of the storage environment;

(e) presenting information regarding the component to the user;

wherein using the layout, an integrated view of the storage environment is presented on a display device with selectable options for selecting the cluster based storage system components and the non-cluster based storage system components;

when the cluster based storage system is selected in response to a user request, components and attributes of the cluster based storage system are displayed to the user; and

wherein a management application generates the layout by maintaining relationships between a plurality of physical components and a plurality of logical components for both the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system.

14. The storage medium of claim 13, wherein in response to a request, a virtual server from a list of plurality of virtual servers associated with the selected cluster based storage system is selected;

and

attributes for the selected virtual server are displayed.

15. The storage medium of claim 13, wherein in response to a request, the non-cluster based storage system is selected from the integrated view;

and attributes of the selected non-cluster based storage system are displayed.

16. The storage medium of claim 13, wherein a user is provided with a selectable option to view the physical components and the logical components of the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system.

17. The storage medium of claim 13, wherein a management application segregates users of both the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system into different groups.

18. The storage medium of claim 17, wherein the management application presents a group wise usage of the cluster based storage system and the non-cluster based storage system.