Systems and methods for intercepting data relating to storage volume access

• US 8,255,538 B1
• Filed: 12/23/2011
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cirrus Data Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cirrus Data Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Lam, Wai T., Lam, Wayne, Liu, Chang
• Primary Examiner(s): BAROT, BHARAT
• Application Number:
  US13/336,257
• Time in Patent Office: 249 Days
• Field of Search: 709202-203, 709223-226, 370360-363, 370400-401, 714 42- 43
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0617 in relation to availability
• 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 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• 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

A target world wide port name of a target port of a storage system is identified, by a device located in a path between a switch port of a switch and the target port of the storage system. A first port of the device is registered with the switch based on the target world wide port name, in a first registration procedure. Registration information relating to an initiator port of a server that is associated with the target port is received, in a second registration procedure. An initiator world wide port name of the initiator port of the server is determined, based on the registration information. A storage volume in the storage system that is associated with the initiator port is identified, based on the initiator world wide port name of the initiator port.

Claims

1. A method of providing data management services, the method comprising:

identifying, by a device located in a path between a switch port of a switch and a target port of a storage system, a target world wide port name of the target port;

registering, by the device, in a first registration procedure, a first port of the device with the switch based on the target world wide port name;

receiving, by the device, in a second registration procedure, registration information comprising first information relating to an initiator port of a server that is associated with the target port and second information specifying a particular switch port to which the initiator port is connected;

determining, by the device, an initiator world wide port name of the initiator port of the server, based on the registration information; and

identifying, by the device, a storage volume in the storage system that is associated with the initiator port, based on the initiator world wide port name of the initiator port.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning the target world wide port name to the first port of the device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second registration procedure comprises registration by the initiator port with the device via the first port.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, in the second registration procedure, a switch port identifier associated with an initiator port of a server that is zoned to the target port.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a Simple Name Server table that identifies, for each of one or more ports of the switch, a corresponding world wide port name.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, by the device, to the storage system, a REPORT LUN command including the initiator world wide port name; and

receiving, by the device, from the storage system, in response to the REPORT LUN command, information identifying the storage volume to which the initiator world wide port name has access.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting, by the device, to the storage system a SCSI inquiry relating to the storage volume to which the initiator world wide port name has access;

receiving, by the device, in response to the SCSI inquiry, information indicating a global unique identifier of the storage volume; and

determining whether two storage volumes associated with the initiator world wide port name are identical based on the global unique identifier.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the switch is a Fibre channel switch.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

registering, by the device, in the first registration procedure, the first port of the device with the switch based on the target world wide port name and on a second world wide port name uniquely associated with the first port of the device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adding the initiator world wide port name of the initiator port of the server to an interceptor port of the device;

adding a second initiator world wide port name of a second initiator port of the server to the interceptor port of the device;

transmitting, by the interceptor port of the device, to the storage system, one or more commands specifying the initiator world wide port name of the initiator port of the server and the second initiator world wide port name of the second initiator port of the server;

identifying, by the device, a first storage volume in the storage system that is associated with the initiator port, based on the initiator world wide port name of the initiator port; and

identifying, by the device, a second storage volume in the storage system that is associated with the second initiator port, based on the second initiator world wide port name of the second initiator port.

11. A device, located in a network between a switch port of a switch and a target port of a storage system, the device comprising:

a first port; and

a processor configured to;

identify a target world wide port name of a target port of the storage system;

register, in a first registration procedure, the first port of the device with the switch based on the target world wide port name;

receive, in a second registration procedure, registration information comprising first information relating to an initiator port of a server that is associated with the target port and second information specifying a particular switch port to which the initiator port is connected;

determine an initiator world wide port name of the initiator port of the server, based on the registration information; and

identify one or more storage volumes in the storage system that is associated with the initiator port, based on the initiator world wide port name of the initiator port.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

assign the target world wide port name to the first port of the device.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the second registration procedure comprises registration by the initiator port with the device via the first port.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive, in the second registration procedure, a switch port identifier associated with an initiator port of the server that is zoned to the target port.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

access a Simple Name Server table that identifies, for each of one or more ports of the switch, a corresponding world wide port name.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit to the storage system a REPORT LUN command including the initiator world wide port name; and

receive from the storage system, in response to the REPORT LUN command, information identifying the storage volume to which the world wide port name has access.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit to the storage system a SCSI inquiry relating to the storage volume associated with the initiator world wide port name;

receive, in response to the SCSI inquiry, information indicating a global unique identifier of the storage volume; and

determine whether two storage volumes associated with the initiator world wide port name are identical based on the global unique identifier.

18. The device of claim 11, wherein the switch is a Fibre channel switch.

19. A method of providing a data management service, the method comprising:

determining, by a device located in a path between a switch port of a switch and a target port of a storage system, an identifier of an initiator port of a host entity connected to the switch;

spoofing, by the device, the initiator port of the host entity to identify a storage volume in the storage system to which the initiator port has access, based on the identifier; and

providing, by the device, a data management service with respect to the identified storage volume.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the data management service includes one of:

copying data, performing a snapshot of a data image, replicating data, performing a data migration service, monitoring I/O commands sent to and from a selected volume maintained in a storage system, generating statistics relating to I/O commands, and calling a predetermined function to perform a specified action based on a detection of a predetermined condition.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the identifier is a world wide port name.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

transmitting, by the device, to the storage system, a REPORT LUN command including the world wide port name; and

receiving, by the device, from the storage system, in response to the REPORT LUN command, information identifying the storage volume to which the selected world wide port name has access.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

spoofing, by the device, the target port of the storage system to obtain information relating to the initiator port of the host entity; and

determining, by the device, the identifier of the initiator port of the host entity based on the information.

24. A device located in a network, in a path between a switch port of a switch and a target port of a storage system, the device comprising:

a first port connected to the switch;

a second port connected to the storage system; and

at least one processor configured to;

determine an identifier of an initiator port of a host entity connected to the switch;

spoof the initiator port of the host entity to identify a storage volume in the storage system to which the initiator port has access, based on the identifier; and

provide a data management service with respect to the identified storage volume.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the data management service includes one of:

copying data, performing a snapshot of a data image, replicating data, performing a data migration service, monitoring I/O commands sent to and from a selected volume maintained in a storage system, generating statistics relating to I/O commands, and calling a predetermined function to perform a specified action based on a detection of a predetermined condition.

26. The device of claim 24, wherein the identifier is a world wide port name.

27. The device of claim 24, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

spoof the target port of the storage system to obtain information relating to the initiator port of the host entity; and

determine the identifier of the initiator port of the host entity based on the information.