Technique for implementing virtual fabric membership assignments for devices in a storage area network
First Claim
1. A method for automatically responding to changing conditions in a storage area network, the method comprising:
- detecting by a network device a first network change event, wherein the first network change event relates to a modification of a configuration of a first VSAN-N_Port association;
determining a type of the first network change event;
identifying a first N_Port of the first VSAN-N_Port association, wherein the first VSAN-N_Port association includes at least one N_Port configured for use in a respective virtual storage area network;
identifying a first VSAN of the first VSAN-N_Port association;
determining that the first N_Port is logged in at the first VSAN based on, at least in part, the type of the first network change event;
identifying a first F_Port associated with the first VSAN;
identifying a first member that is logged in to the first VSAN via the first F_Port; and
transmitting instructions to a host of the first N_Port or a first member logged into the first VSAN via the first N_Port to perform a logoff operation.
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Abstract
A technique is provided for facilitating fabric membership login for an N_Port of a storage area network. A communication from a network node is received. The communication may include a portion of criteria associated with the N_Port. Using at least a portion of the portion of criteria, a virtual fabric identifier corresponding to a virtual fabric which is associated with the N_Port may be automatically identified. Fabric configuration information, which includes the virtual fabric identifier, may be automatically provided to the network node. A fabric login request from the N_Port to login to the virtual fabric may then be received. According to a specific embodiment, the communication may be transmitted from a network node to an F_Port on a Fiber Channel switch. When the N_Port received the fabric configuration information from the F_Port, the generating, using at least a portion of the received fabric configuration information, a fabric login request message may be generated by the N_Port which includes a fabric login request for the N_Port to login to the virtual fabric corresponding to the virtual fabric identifier. In at least one implementation, the N_Port and/or F_Port may be configured or designed to support trunking functionality.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for automatically responding to changing conditions in a storage area network, the method comprising:
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detecting by a network device a first network change event, wherein the first network change event relates to a modification of a configuration of a first VSAN-N_Port association; determining a type of the first network change event; identifying a first N_Port of the first VSAN-N_Port association, wherein the first VSAN-N_Port association includes at least one N_Port configured for use in a respective virtual storage area network; identifying a first VSAN of the first VSAN-N_Port association; determining that the first N_Port is logged in at the first VSAN based on, at least in part, the type of the first network change event; identifying a first F_Port associated with the first VSAN; identifying a first member that is logged in to the first VSAN via the first F_Port; and transmitting instructions to a host of the first N_Port or a first member logged into the first VSAN via the first N_Port to perform a logoff operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 7)
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4. A Fibre Channel switch in a storage area network, the Fibre Channel switch comprising:
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at least one processor; at least one first F_Port configured or designed to provide an interface to at least one other network device in the storage area network; and memory; the switch being operable to; detect by a network device a first network change event, wherein the first network change event relates to a modification of a configuration of a first VSAN-N_Port association; determine a type of the first network change event; identify a first N_Port of the first VSAN-N_Port association, wherein the first VSAN-N_Port association includes at least one N_Port configured for use in a respective virtual storage area network; identify a first VSAN of the first VSAN-N_Port association; and ascertain that the first N_Port is logged in to the first VSAN based on, at least in part, the type of the first network change event; and transmit instructions to a host of the first N_Port or a first member logged in to the first VSAN via the first N_Port to perform a logoff operation in response to the detection of the first network change event. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 12)
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8. A method for automatically responding to changing conditions in a storage area network, the method comprising:
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detecting by a network device a first network change event, wherein the first network change event relates to a modification of a configuration of a first VSAN-N_Port association; determining a type of the first network change event; identifying a first N_Port of a first VSAN-N_Port association, wherein the first VSAN-N_Port association includes at least one N_Port configured for use in a respective virtual storage area network; identifying a first VSAN of the first VSAN-N_Port association; determining that the type of the first network change event indicates that the first VSAN-N_Port association is new; determining that the first N_Port is logged in at the first VSAN based on, at least in part, the type of the first network change event; transmitting instructions to a host logged into the first VSAN via the first N_Port or first member logged into the first VSAN via the first N_Port that instruct the host or first member to perform a first action. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method, comprising:
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detecting by a network device a first network change event, wherein the first network change event relates to a modification of a configuration of a first VSAN-N_Port association; determining a type of the first network change event; identifying a first N_Port of a first VSAN-N_Port association, wherein the first VSAN-N_Port association includes at least one N_Port configured for use in a respective virtual storage area network; identifying a first VSAN of the first VSAN-N_Port association; determining by a network device that the type of the first network change event indicates that the first VSAN-N_Port association has been deleted; determining by the network device whether the first N_Port is currently logged into the first VSAN based on, at least in part, the type of the first network change event; and notifying by the network device a host of the first N_Port, wherein notifying includes sending instructions to the host to instruct the host to perform a logoff operation of the first N_Port from the first VSAN in response to a determination that the first N_Port is currently logged into the first VSAN.
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Specification