Configuration verification, recommendation, and animation method for a disk array in a storage area network (SAN)

• US 8,024,440 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
• Inventors: Jibbe, Mahmoud K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phuoc
• Assistant Examiner(s): SISON, JUNE Y
• Application Number:
  US11/416,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20070260712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,966 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0823 characterised by the purposes of a change of settings, e.g. optimising configuration for enhancing reliability for optimising operational conditions of wireless networks H04W24/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0873 Checking configuration conflicts between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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 system and method for establishing a storage area network (SAN) is described. The method includes providing a predefined template for inputting data associated with a SAN. A first tool may utilize the template to validate an entered SAN configuration based on accessing data in a database. A second tool may utilize the template to generate a valid SAN configuration, based on accessing SAN data in a database, if component data is entered. An animated configuration of a valid SAN is generated based on at least one of the input SAN configuration or the input component data.

Claims

1. A method for storage area network (SAN) establishment, said method comprising:

providing a predefined template via a computing system, said predefined template configured for inputting data associated with a SAN, the input data including;

a user configuration, component information or desired characteristics defining one or more SAN components or one or more SAN configurations, the providing a predefined template configured for inputting data associated with a SAN further including;

implementing a graphical user interface to aid in data input, permit parameters changes and allow for reconfiguration and the predefined template further including;

a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) selection portion, a user input portion for identifying and storing resultant information, a SAN data input portion, a manipulation selection portion and a data entry portion;

utilizing input component data to verify component interoperability and suitability for a selected RAID configuration included in the SAN prior to obtaining one or more components;

utilizing the predefined template by a first tool to obtain a configuration for a SAN, including component data, and when a SAN configuration is input for validation, querying a database of SAN data, via the first tool, for validation of the SAN configuration;

selecting a second tool from the manipulation selection portion of the predefined template;

utilizing the predefined template by a second tool configured for generating a SAN configuration, and when component data is input to the predefined template, accessing the database via the second tool and comparing the input component data to a database query to generate the SAN configuration; and

when the input component data matches a valid SAN configuration, generating an optimized animated configuration of the valid SAN configuration to the predefined template from the accessed database based on at least one of the SAN configuration input for validation or the input component data, the generating an animated configuration of a valid SAN configuration being automatically generated by the system if a throughput of the system would increase by a predetermined factor due to component replacement or component reconfiguration, the generating an animated configuration of a valid SAN configuration further including;

outputting the animated configuration to a configuration sketch portion of the predefined template; and

when no match is found in the database for an input component included in the input component data, providing an incompatibility warning based on the input component data, said warning identifying the non-matching input component, said warning including a suggestion to a user to update said database with updated information from a manufacturer-maintained database.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising recommending an optimized animated SAN configuration based on input component data, the recommending an optimized animated SAN configuration further including:

when multiple valid configurations are available, testing each of the multiple valid configurations to determine relative functionality of the multiple valid configurations; and

recommending replacement of one or more components.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein SAN data includes at least one of wiring configuration data, zoning configuration data, host clustering data, host bus adapter data, or software parameter data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating an animated configuration includes recommending a conforming component when no match is found in the database for input component data.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising recommending a step-by-step procedure for establishing the SAN based on the animated configuration.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising cross-referencing printed documentation associated with a step included in the step-by-step procedure by interacting with the animated configuration.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein SAN data includes a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) configuration.

8. A system for storage area network (SAN) establishment, comprising:

a non-transitory electronically readable medium stored on a computer readable memory device and encoded to cause a central processing unit executing the software system for storage area network (SAN) establishment to effectively generate;

a template configured for inputting SAN data including SAN component data the template further including;

a graphical user interface to aid in data input, permit parameters changes and allow for reconfiguration, a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) selection portion, a user input portion for identifying and storing resultant information, a SAN data input portion, a manipulation selection portion and a data entry portion;

a database of SAN data;

a first tool configured for utilizing the template to determine if whether an input SAN configuration is valid based upon the database of SAN data, the first tool querying the database of SAN data for validation of the SAN configuration;

a second tool configured for utilizing the template to recommended a valid SAN configuration selected from the SAN data included in the database, the second tool selected from the manipulation selection portion of the predefined template, and when component data is input, accessing the database via the second tool and comparing the input component data to a database query to generate the SAN configuration, when no match is found in the database for an input component included in the input component data, providing an incompatibility warning based on the input component data, said warning identifying the non-matching input component, said warning further suggesting a software update for making the non-matching component operable, the second tool further configured to recommend an optimized animated SAN configuration further including;

when multiple valid configurations are available, testing each of the multiple valid configurations to determine relative functionality of the multiple valid configurations; and

recommending replacement of one or more components; and

a configuration sketch portion receiving a generated optimized animated configuration of a valid SAN based on SAN data input to the template, said generating of said optimized animated configuration being automatically performed by the system when component replacement or component reconfiguration allows said system to have a throughput which is greater than a predetermined throughput threshold for the system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the database contains SAN data including at least one of wiring configuration data, zoning configuration data, host clustering data, host bus adapter data, or software parameter data.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the template recommends a conforming component when no match is found in the database for an input SAN component.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the template recommends a step-by-step procedure for establishing the animated SAN.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the database contains redundant array of independent disks (RAID) configuration data.