Control of data storage system management application activation

• US 8,504,684 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2010
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Ballantyne, Robert A., Rieper, Felix, Chen, Peter, Ming, Xue, Marchant, Kendra
• Primary Examiner(s): NANO, SARGON N
• Application Number:
  US12/821,695
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 709217-224, 709/229
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5016 the resource being the memory

Abstract

A method for managing data storage system management applications includes executing, by a client device, a first data storage system management application, receiving, by the client device, an execution instruction for execution of a second data storage system management application, and detecting, by the client device, an installation of a second data storage system management application as part of the client device, the second data storage system management application being distinct from the first data storage system management application. If the second data storage system management application is installed on the client device, executing the second data storage system management application, otherwise retrieving the second data storage system management application from a server device and executing the second data storage system management application.

Claims

1. A method for controlling activation of a data storage system management application, comprising:

executing, by a client device, a first data storage system management application;

receiving, by the client device, an execution instruction for execution of a second data storage system management application, the second data storage system management application being distinct from the first data storage system management application, the second data storage system management application being available on a server device;

detecting, by the client device, whether the second data storage system management application is installed on the client device;

if the second data storage system management application is detected as being installed on the client device;

executing, by the client device, the second data storage system management application;

if the second data storage system management application is detected as not being installed on the client device;

retrieving, by the client device, the second data storage system management application from the server device, and

executing, by the client device, the second data storage system management application;

wherein the method comprises;

presenting, by the client device and as part of a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the first data storage management application, a set of executable functionalities associated with the second data storage system management application;

wherein receiving the execution instruction for execution of a second data storage system management application comprises;

receiving an execution command associated with an executable functionality of the set of executable functionalities presented as part of the GUI;

wherein presenting, by the client device and as part of the GUI associated with the first data storage management application, the set of executable functionalities associated with the second data storage system management application comprises;

presenting, by the client device and as part of a primary data storage system management GUI associated with the first data storage management application, a set of links, each link associated with a functionality of the second data storage system management application; and

wherein receiving the execution command associated with the executable functionality of the set of executable functionalities presented as part of the GUI comprises;

receiving an activation command associated with a link presented as part of the primary data storage system management GUI associated with the first data storage management application.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising presenting, by the client device, as the set of executable functionalities associated with the second data storage system management application a subset of the set of executable functionalities with the second data storage system management application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving the second data storage system management application from the server device comprises:

receiving, by the client device and from the server device, an application catalog, the application catalog listing identification information of applications associated with the data storage system;

detecting, by the client device, a location of the second data storage system management application based upon the application catalog; and

retrieving, by the client device, the second data storage system management application from the identified location based upon the application catalog.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

providing, by the client device, navigation information related to the data storage system and security information relating to the data storage system, utilized by the first data storage system management application, to the second data storage system management application; and

executing, by the client device, the second data storage system management application to establish communication with the data storage system utilizing the navigation information.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

providing, by the client device, navigation information related to the data storage system and security information relating to the data storage system, utilized by the first data storage system management application, to the second data storage system management application comprises providing, by the client device, an Internet Protocol address associated with the data storage system and a security credential associated with the data storage system, as utilized by the first data storage system management application, to the second data storage system management application; and

executing, by the client device, the second data storage system management application to establish communication with the data storage system utilizing the navigation information comprises executing, by the client device, the second data storage system management application to establish communication with the data storage system utilizing the Internet Protocol address associated with the data storage system and the security credential associated with the data storage system.

3. A method for controlling activation of a data storage system management application, comprising:

executing, by a client device, a first data storage system management application;

receiving, by the client device, an execution instruction for execution of a second data storage system management application, the second data storage system management application being distinct from the first data storage system management application, the second data storage system management application being available on a server device;

detecting, by the client device, whether the second data storage system management application is installed on the client device;

if the second data storage system management application is detected as being installed on the client device;

executing, by the client device, the second data storage system management application;

if the second data storage system management application is detected as not being installed on the client device;

retrieving, by the client device, the second data storage system management application from the server device, and

executing, by the client device, the second data storage system management application;

wherein the method comprises;

presenting, by the client device and as part of a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the first data storage management application, a set of executable functionalities associated with the second data storage system management application;

wherein receiving the execution instruction for execution of a second data storage system management application comprises;

receiving an execution command associated with an executable functionality of the set of executable functionalities presented as part of the GUI; and

wherein presenting, by the client device and as part of the GUI associated with the first data storage management application, the set of executable functionalities associated with the second data storage system management application comprises;

presenting, by the client device and as part of a secondary data storage system management GUI associated with the first data storage management application, the secondary data storage system management GUI depending from a primary data storage system management GUI associated with the first data storage management application, the set of executable functionalities associated with the second data storage system management application; and

wherein receiving the execution command associated with the executable functionality of the set of executable functionalities presented as part of the GUI comprises;

receiving an activation command associated with the executable functionality presented as part of the secondary data storage system management GUI.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one communications interface; and

a controller electrically coupled to the at least one communications interface wherein the controller is configured to;

execute a first data storage system management application;

receive an execution instruction for execution of a second data storage system management application, the second data storage system management application being distinct from the first data storage system management application, the second data storage system management application being available on a server device;

detect whether of the second data storage system management application of is installed on the client device; and

if the second data storage system management application is detected as being installed on the client device

execute the second data storage system management application;

if the second data storage system management application is detected as not being installed on the client device;

retrieve the second data storage system management application from the server device and

execute the second data storage system management application;

wherein the controller is configured to;

present, by the client device and as part of a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the first data storage management application, a set of executable functionalities associated with the second data storage system management application;

wherein receiving the execution instruction for execution of a second data storage system management application comprises;

receiving an execution command associated with an executable functionality of the set of executable functionalities presented as part of the GUI;

wherein presenting, by the client device and as part of the GUI associated with the first data storage management application, the set of executable functionalities associated with the second data storage system management application comprises;

presenting, by the client device and as part of a primary data storage system management GUI associated with the first data storage management application, a set of links, each link associated with a functionality of the second data storage system management application; and

wherein receiving the execution command associated with the executable functionality of the set of executable functionalities presented as part of the GUI comprises;

receiving an activation command associated with a link presented as part of the primary data storage system management GUI associated with the first data storage management application.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to present as the set of executable functionalities associated with the second data storage system management application a subset of the set of executable functionalities with the second data storage system management application.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein when retrieving the second data storage system management application from the server device, the controller is configured to:

receive from the server device, an application catalog, the application catalog listing identification information of applications associated with the data storage system;

detect a location of the second data storage system management application based upon the application catalog; and

retrieve the second data storage system management application from the identified location based upon the application catalog.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to:

provide navigation information related to the data storage system and security information relating to the data storage system, utilized by the first data storage system management application, to the second data storage system management application; and

execute the second data storage system management application to establish communication with the data storage system utilizing the navigation information.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

when providing navigation information related to the data storage system and security information relating to the data storage system, utilized by the first data storage system management application, to the second data storage system management application the controller is configured to provide an Internet Protocol address associated with the data storage system and a security credential associated with the data storage system, as utilized by the first data storage system management application, to the second data storage system management application; and

when executing the second data storage system management application to establish communication with the data storage system utilizing the navigation information the controller is configured to execute the second data storage system management application to establish communication with the data storage system utilizing the Internet Protocol address associated with the data storage system and the security credential associated with the data storage system.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one communications interface; and

a controller electrically coupled to the at least one communications interface wherein the controller is configured to;

execute a first data storage system management application;

receive an execution instruction for execution of a second data storage system management application, the second data storage system management application being distinct from the first data storage system management application, the second data storage system management application being available on a server device;

detect whether the second data storage system management application is installed on the client device; and

if the second data storage system management application is detected as being installed on the client device;

execute the second data storage system management application;

if the second data storage system management application is detected as not being installed on the client device;

retrieve the second data storage system management application from the server device, and

execute the second data storage system management application wherein the controller is configured to;

present, by the client device and as part of a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the first data storage management application, a set of executable functionalities associated with the second data storage system management application;

wherein receiving the execution instruction for execution of a second data storage system management application comprises;

receiving an execution command associated with an executable functionality of the set of executable functionalities presented as part of the GUI;

wherein when presenting as part of the GUI associated with the first data storage management application, the set of executable functionalities associated with the second data storage system management application, the controller is configured to;

present as part of a secondary data storage system management GUI associated with the first data storage management application, the secondary data storage system management GUI depending from a primary data storage system management GUI associated with the first data storage management application, the set of executable functionalities associated with the second data storage system management application; and

wherein when receiving the execution command associated with the executable functionality of the set of executable functionalities presented as part of the GUI, the controller is configured to;

receive an activation command associated with the executable functionality presented as part of the secondary data storage system management GUI.

13. A computer program product having a non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that, when performed on a controller of an apparatus, causes the apparatus to:

execute a first data storage system management application;

receive an execution instruction for execution of a second data storage system management application, the second data storage system management application being distinct from the first data storage system management application, the second data storage system management application being available on a server device;

detect whether the second data storage system management application is installed on the client device; and

if the second data storage system management application is detected as being installed on the client device;

execute the second data storage system management application;

if the second data storage system management application is detected as not being installed on the client device;

retrieve the second data storage system management application from the server device, and

execute the second data storage system management application;

wherein the computer-readable medium includes computer program logic encoded thereon that causes the apparatus to;

present, by the client device and as part of a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the first data storage management application, a set of executable functionalities associated with the second data storage system management application;

wherein receiving the execution instruction for execution of a second data storage system management application comprises;

receiving an execution command associated with an executable functionality of the set of executable functionalities presented as part of the GUI;

wherein presenting, by the client device and as part of the GUI associated with the first data storage management application, the set of executable functionalities associated with the second data storage system management application comprises;

presenting, by the client device and as part of a primary data storage system management GUI associated with the first data storage management application, a set of links, each link associated with a functionality of the second data storage system management application; and

wherein receiving the execution command associated with the executable functionality of the set of executable functionalities presented as part of the GUI comprises;

receiving an activation command associated with a link presented as part of the primary data storage system management GUI associated with the first data storage management application.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the computer-readable medium includes computer program logic encoded thereon that causes the apparatus to present as the set of executable functionalities associated with the second data storage system management application a subset of the set of executable functionalities with the second data storage system management application.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein when retrieving the second data storage system management application from the server device, the computer-readable medium includes computer program logic encoded thereon that causes the apparatus to:

receive from the server device, an application catalog, the application catalog listing identification information of applications associated with the data storage system;

detect a location of the second data storage system management application based upon the application catalog; and

retrieve the second data storage system management application from the identified location based upon the application catalog.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer-readable medium includes computer program logic encoded thereon that causes the apparatus to:

provide navigation information related to the data storage system and security information relating to the data storage system, utilized by the first data storage system management application, to the second data storage system management application; and

execute the second data storage system management application to establish communication with the data storage system utilizing the navigation information.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein:

when providing navigation information related to the data storage system and security information relating to the data storage system, utilized by the first data storage system management application, to the second data storage system management application the controller is configured to provide an Internet Protocol address associated with the data storage system and a security credential associated with the data storage system, as utilized by the first data storage system management application, to the second data storage system management application; and

when executing the second data storage system management application to establish communication with the data storage system utilizing the navigation information the controller is configured to execute the second data storage system management application to establish communication with the data storage system utilizing the Internet Protocol address associated with the data storage system and the security credential associated with the data storage system.

18. The computer program product as in claim 13,

wherein when presenting as part of the GUI associated with the first data storage management application, the set of executable functionalities associated with the second data storage system management application, the computer-readable medium includes computer program logic encoded thereon that causes the apparatus to:

present as part of a secondary data storage system management GUI associated with the first data storage management application, the secondary data storage system management GUI depending from a primary data storage system management GUI associated with the first data storage management application, the set of executable functionalities associated with the second data storage system management application; and

wherein when receiving the execution command associated with the executable functionality of the set of executable functionalities presented as part of the GUI, the computer-readable medium includes computer program logic encoded thereon that causes the apparatus to;

receive an activation command associated with the executable functionality presented as part of the secondary data storage system management GUI.

19. A computer program product having a non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that, when performed on a controller of an apparatus, causes the apparatus to:

execute a first data storage system management application;

receive an execution instruction for execution of a second data storage system management application, the second data storage system management application being distinct from the first data storage system management application, the second data storage system management application being available on a server device;

detect whether he second data storage system management application is installed on the client device; and

if the second data storage system management application is detected as being installed on the client device;

execute the second data storage system management application;

if the second data storage system management application is detected as not being installed on the client device;

retrieve the second data storage system management application from the server device, and

execute the second data storage system management application;

wherein the computer-readable medium includes computer program logic encoded thereon that causes the apparatus to;

present, by the client device and as part of a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the first data storage management application, a set of executable functionalities associated with the second data storage system management application;

wherein receiving the execution instruction for execution of a second data storage system management application comprises;

receiving an execution command associated with an executable functionality of the set of executable functionalities presented as part of the GUI;

wherein when presenting as part of the GUI associated with the first data storage management application, the set of executable functionalities associated with the second data storage system management application, the computer-readable medium includes computer program logic encoded thereon that causes the apparatus to;

present as part of a secondary data storage system management GUI associated with the first data storage management application, the secondary data storage system management GUI depending from a primary data storage system management GUI associated with the first data storage management application, the set of executable functionalities associated with the second data storage system management application; and

wherein when receiving the execution command associated with the executable functionality of the set of executable functionalities presented as part of the GUI, the computer-readable medium includes computer program logic encoded thereon that causes the apparatus to;

receive an activation command associated with the executable functionality presented as part of the secondary data storage system management GUI.