Presentation of virtual arrays using n-port ID virtualization
First Claim
1. A storage array comprising:
- a plurality of physical ports for coupling the storage array to a switch; and
a plurality of individual logical units of physical storage space organized into a plurality of groups of logical units of storage, each group having at least two of the individual logical units such that the at least two individual logical units are part of the group distinguished from being mapped to the group, each group being coupled to one or more physical ports of the plurality of physical ports on the storage array, each group being assigned a unique virtual port ID that uniquely identifies the group for each physical port on the array to which the group is coupled, with each group of the plurality of groups of logical units of storage that is coupled to two or more physical ports of the plurality of physical ports being assigned a unique virtual port ID for each of the two or more physical ports to which that same group is coupled such that multiple unique virtual port IDs are assigned to that same group, wherein a group of the plurality of groups of logical units of storage is assigned multiple virtual port IDs and two physical ports of the two or more physical ports, and wherein a first virtual port ID of the multiple port IDs corresponds to the first physical port of the two physical ports and a second virtual port ID of the multiple port IDs corresponds to the second physical port of the two physical ports.
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Abstract
A storage array presents virtual arrays to hosts through use of virtual port IDs. The storage array includes groups of logical units of storage. The groups are coupled to a switch through at least one physical port. Each group is assigned a unique virtual port ID for each physical port to which it is coupled. The virtual port IDs are assignable by the switch. The virtual port IDs are used by hosts coupled to the switch to exchange data with the groups to which the virtual port IDs are assigned. Further, a zoning table in the switch can associate each virtual port ID to a host facing port on the switch. In this case each host can communicate only with groups of logical units that are assigned virtual IDs associated with the host facing port to which it is coupled.
60 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A storage array comprising:
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a plurality of physical ports for coupling the storage array to a switch; and a plurality of individual logical units of physical storage space organized into a plurality of groups of logical units of storage, each group having at least two of the individual logical units such that the at least two individual logical units are part of the group distinguished from being mapped to the group, each group being coupled to one or more physical ports of the plurality of physical ports on the storage array, each group being assigned a unique virtual port ID that uniquely identifies the group for each physical port on the array to which the group is coupled, with each group of the plurality of groups of logical units of storage that is coupled to two or more physical ports of the plurality of physical ports being assigned a unique virtual port ID for each of the two or more physical ports to which that same group is coupled such that multiple unique virtual port IDs are assigned to that same group, wherein a group of the plurality of groups of logical units of storage is assigned multiple virtual port IDs and two physical ports of the two or more physical ports, and wherein a first virtual port ID of the multiple port IDs corresponds to the first physical port of the two physical ports and a second virtual port ID of the multiple port IDs corresponds to the second physical port of the two physical ports. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system comprising:
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a plurality of hosts; and a storage array including a plurality of physical ports for coupling the storage array to a switch, the storage array including a plurality of individual logical units of physical storage space organized into a plurality of groups of logical units of storage, each group being coupled to one or more physical ports of the plurality of physical ports on the storage array, each group having at least two of the individual logical units such that the at least two individual logical units are part of the group distinguished from being mapped to the group, each group being assigned a unique virtual port ID that uniquely identifies the group for each physical port on the array to which the group is coupled, with each group of the plurality of groups of logical units of storage that is coupled to two or more physical ports of the plurality of physical ports being assigned a unique virtual port ID for each of the two or more physical ports to which that same group is coupled such that multiple unique virtual port IDs are assigned to that same group, each host communicating with a given group of the plurality of groups of logical units of storage via the switch using one of the one or more unique virtual port IDs assigned to the given group, wherein a group of the plurality of groups of logical units of storage is assigned multiple virtual port IDs and two physical ports of the two or more physical ports, and wherein a first virtual port ID of the multiple port IDs corresponds to the first physical port of the two physical ports and a second virtual port ID of the multiple port IDs corresponds to the second physical port of the two physical ports. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising the steps of:
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providing a storage array including a plurality of physical ports; coupling the storage array to a switch via the physical ports; arranging logical units in the storage array into a plurality of individual logical units of physical storage space organized into a plurality of groups of logical units of storage, each group having at least two of the individual logical units such that the at least two individual logical units are part of the group distinguished from being mapped to the group, each group being coupled to one or more physical ports of the plurality of the physical ports on the array; assigning to each group a unique virtual port ID that uniquely identifies the group for each physical port on the array to which it is coupled, with each group of the plurality of groups of logical units of storage that is coupled to two or more physical ports of the plurality of physical ports being assigned a unique virtual port ID for each of the two or more physical ports to which that same group is coupled such that multiple unique virtual port IDs are assigned to that same group, wherein a group of the plurality of groups of logical units of storage is assigned multiple virtual port IDs and two physical ports of the two or more physical ports, and wherein a first virtual port ID of the multiple port IDs corresponds to the first physical port of the two physical ports and a second virtual port ID of the multiple port IDs corresponds to the second physical port of the two physical ports. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method comprising the steps of:
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providing a storage array including a plurality of physical ports; coupling the storage array to a switch via the physical ports; arranging logical units in the storage array into a plurality of individual logical units of physical storage space organized into a plurality of groups of logical units of storage, each group having at least two of the individual logical units such that the at least two individual logical units are part of the group distinguished from being mapped to the group; coupling the groups to a switch through at least one physical port on the storage array, each group being coupled to one or more physical ports of the plurality of physical ports on the array; assigning to each group a unique virtual port ID that uniquely identifies the group for each physical port on the array to which it is coupled, with each group of the plurality of groups of logical units of storage that is coupled to two or more physical ports of the plurality of physical ports being assigned a unique virtual port ID for each of the two or more physical ports to which that same group is coupled such that multiple unique virtual port IDs are assigned to that same group, wherein a group of the plurality of groups of logical units of storage is assigned multiple virtual port IDs and two physical ports of the two or more physical ports, and wherein a first virtual port ID of the multiple port IDs corresponds to the first physical port of the two physical ports and a second virtual port ID of the multiple port IDs corresponds to the second physical port of the two physical ports; coupling a host to the switch; using by the host a virtual port ID to exchange data with the group in the storage array to which the virtual port ID is assigned. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification