Method and/or apparatus for certifying an out of band management application in an external storage array

• US 8,966,098 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2011
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jibbe, Mahmoud K., Dhar, Krishanu
• Primary Examiner(s): HOANG, HIEU T
• Application Number:
  US13/049,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20110167295A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227, 709/228, 709/229, 717/124, 717/168
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2247 Verification or detection of system hardware configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0689 Disk arrays, e.g. RAID, JBOD
• 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 method for configuring a storage array, comprising the steps of (A) configuring the storage array with a minimal number of components for initial testing; (B) sending a first symbol call command to the storage array to initiate a test of a structure of the storage array; (C) receiving a response from the storage array; and (D) determining whether the test passed in response to the response.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a storage array, comprising the steps of:

(A) configuring a device to use a database of said storage array for initial testing, wherein said device (i) operates using an IP address of a drive structure of said storage array and (ii) implements testing capabilities;

(B) sending a first symbol call command to said device to initiate a test of said drive structure of said storage array stored in said database of said device;

(C) receiving a response from said device;

(D) determining whether said test passed in response to said response received from said device; and

(E) configuring said storage array using said drive structure, wherein (i) said storage array is connected to a network switch after said drive structure passes said test on said device and (ii) said device allows testing of a configuration of said storage array without having said storage array connected to said network switch during testing.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method captures said drive structure if said test passes.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said method analyzes said drive structure if said test does not pass.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said method repeats steps (B) through (D) for a subsequent test of said storage array.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method implements steps (C) and (D) in a snooper device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method writes said structure to a file if said test passes.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said file comprises a XML file.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein said file comprises a HTML file.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein said file comprises a TXT file.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said test includes one or more of a variety of tests.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said storage array fills in an object graph in response to said first symbol call command.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said testing capabilities comprise snoop capabilities.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises a testing device configured to perform iterative testing on said configuration of said storage array prior to installing said storage array.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said test comprises one or more symbol calls.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said symbol calls are not dependent in an operating system.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method reduces resources rendered to certify management applications.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein said test does not need to wait for the operation of the storage array to complete.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein said test interprets a symbol call in the form of an object graph structure.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein said test links a symbol response.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein said device is configured to send frames over an Ethernet network.