Utilizing virtual private networks to provide object level security on a multi-node computer system

• US 8,424,076 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2008
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Barsness, Eric Lawrence, Darrington, David L., Peters, Amanda, Santosuosso, John Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Thanhnga B
• Application Number:
  US12/127,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20090300752A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,785 Days
• Field of Search: 726/2, 726/14, 726/15, 713/171, 380/278, 370/401
• US Class Current: 726/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles

Abstract

The disclosure herein provides data security on a parallel computer system using virtual private networks connecting the nodes of the system. A mechanism sets up access control data in the nodes that describes a number of security classes. Each security class is associated with a virtual network. Each user on the system is associated with one of the security classes. Each database object to be protected is given an attribute of a security class. Database objects are loaded into the system nodes that match the security class of the database object. When a query executes on the system, the query is sent to a particular class or set of classes such that the query is only seen by those nodes that are authorized by the equivalent security class. In this way, the network is used to isolate data from users that do not have proper authorization to access the data.

Claims

1. A multi-node computer system comprising:

a plurality of compute nodes that each comprise a processor and memory connected by a plurality of virtual networks;

an access setup mechanism that configures access control data on the compute nodes, wherein the access control data includes a security class assignment table, wherein the access control data further includes a security class for each of a plurality of database objects; and

an access control mechanism that controls access to the plurality of database objects over the virtual network by sending a query to a particular security class so the query is only seen by those nodes that are authorized by the particular security class indicated in the access control data.

2. The multi-node computer system of claim 1 wherein the multi-node computer system is a massively parallel computer system.

3. The multi-node computer system of claim 2 wherein the access control mechanism is part of a system kernel in a compute node.

4. The multi-node computer system of claim 1 wherein the access setup mechanism configures a class routing table to set up the plurality of virtual networks.

5. The multi-node computer system of claim 1 wherein the security class assignment table indicates the security class and authorized users for each of the plurality of virtual networks.

6. The multi-node computer system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of compute nodes are arranged in a virtual tree network and further comprising an I/O node that connects to the top of the tree network to allow the compute nodes to communicate with a service node of a massively parallel computer system.

7. A computer implemented method for data security using virtual networks in a multi-node computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

setting up a virtual private network to make determined nodes become protected nodes by configuring access control data on the compute nodes to indicate one of a plurality of virtual networks is a virtual private network, wherein the access control data further includes a security class assignment table, wherein the access control data further includes a security class for each of a plurality of database objects in a database;

loading the database in the multi-node computer system; and

executing a query to access the plurality of database objects over the virtual network by sending a query to a particular security class so the query is only seen by those nodes that are authorized by the particular security class indicated in the access control data.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 7 wherein the multi- node computer system is a massively parallel computer system.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 7 wherein the step of setting up the virtual private network includes configuring a class routing table to set up the plurality of virtual networks.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 7 wherein the security class assignment table indicates the security class and authorized users for each of the plurality of virtual networks.

11. A computer-readable article of manufacture comprising:

an access setup mechanism that configures access control data on a plurality of compute nodes in a multi-node computer system, wherein the access control data includes a security class assignment table, wherein the access control data further includes a security class for each of a plurality of database objects in the memory;

an access control mechanism that controls access to the plurality of database objects over the virtual network by sending a query to a particular security class so the query is only seen by those nodes that are authorized by the particular security class indicated in the access control data; and

tangible computer recordable media bearing the access setup mechanism and the access control mechanism.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 11 wherein the access setup mechanism configures a class routing table to set up the plurality of virtual networks.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 11 wherein the security class assignment table indicates the security class and authorized users for each of the plurality of virtual networks.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 11 wherein the access control mechanism is part of a system kernel in the compute node of a massively parallel computer system.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 11 wherein the plurality of compute nodes are arranged in a virtual tree network and further comprising an I/O node that connects to the top of the tree network to allow the compute nodes to communicate with a service node of a massively parallel computer system.