Protocol independent server replacement and replication in a storage area network

• US 8,626,936 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Arendt, James Wendell, Barabash, Katherine, Loy, Irit
• Primary Examiner(s): NANO, SARGON N
• Application Number:
  US12/018,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20090187668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,176 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/221, 709/224, 709/230, 709/223
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2023 Failover techniques
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities

Abstract

A method for adding a server to a storage area network, the method comprising identifying a set comprising one or more communication protocols for connecting a second server to a first storage device configured to communicate with a first server using a first protocol, wherein the set of protocols comprises protocols that are supported by both the second server and the first storage device; selecting a second protocol from the set of protocols; and configuring the first storage device, the second server, and associated connection devices, wherein the second server may communicate with the first storage device using the second protocol.

Claims

1. A method for replacing or replicating a first server, in communication with a first storage device, with a second server, the method comprising:

identifying a set of protocols comprising one or more communication protocols that are supported by both;

(1) the first storage device connected to the first server and (2) the second server, not connected to the first storage device,

wherein a protocol that is supported by both the first storage device and the second server provides the means for the second server to read and write data to the first storage device;

selecting a protocol from the set of protocols;

configuring the first storage device, the second server, and associated connection devices, so that the second server establishes a connection and communicates with the first storage device to read and write data to the first storage device using the selected protocol, such that data stored on the first storage device is accessible to the second server in a storage area network; and

disconnecting the first storage device from the first server, once the second server directly communicates with the first storage device to read and write data from the first storage device using the selected protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second server replaces the first server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second server replicates the first server so that the first storage device remains connected to the first server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting is performed according to a prioritization algorithm that selects the selected protocol from the set of protocols based on at least one of physical distance, cost, and connection speed.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a database that includes configuration information about one or more of the first server, the first protocol, the first storage device, the second server, the selected protocol or other protocols supported by other servers or storage devices in the network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the database also includes configuration information about the second storage device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the configuration information stored in the database may be used to identify a set of standby servers that are capable of replacing or replicating the first server.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transferring data from the first storage device to the second storage device, in response to determining that there are no protocols that are supported by both the first storage device and the second server.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the first protocol is same as the selected protocol.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the second server is selected from a set of standby servers that are capable of replacing or replicating the first server according to at least one of distance, connection speed and cost.

9. A system for replacing or replicating a first server, in communication with a first storage device, with a second server, the system comprising:

a processor for identifying a set of protocols comprising one or more communication protocols that are supported by both;

(1) the first storage device connected to the first server and (2) the second server, not connected to the first storage device,

wherein a protocol that is supported by both the first storage device and the second server provides the means for the second server to read and write data to the first storage device;

wherein the first storage device is disconnected from the first server, once the second server directly communicates with the first storage device to read and write data from the first storage device using the selected protocol.

wherein a protocol is selected from the set of protocols; and

wherein the first storage device, the second server, and associated connection devices, are configured so that the second server establishes a connection and communicates with the first storage device to read and write data to the first storage device using the selected protocol, such that data stored on the first storage device is accessible to the second server in a storage area network; and

wherein the first storage device is disconnected from the first server, once the second server directly communicates with the first storage device to read and write data from the first storage device using the selected protocol.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second server replaces the first server.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the second server replicates the first server so that the first storage device remains connected to the first server.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the selecting is performed according to a prioritization algorithm that selects the selected protocol from the set of protocols based on factors such as physical distance, cost, or connection speed.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising a logic unit for maintaining a database that includes configuration information about one or more of the first server, the first protocol, the first storage device, the second server, and the selected protocol or other protocols supported by other servers or storage devices in the network.

14. The system of claim 9, further comprising a logic unit for transferring data from the first storage device to the second storage device, in response to determining that there are no protocols that are supported by both the first storage device and the second server.

22. The system of claim 9, wherein the first protocol is same as the selected protocol.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the second server is selected from a set of standby servers that are capable of replacing or replicating the first server according to at least one of distance, connection speed and cost.

15. A computer program product comprising a non-transient computer readable storage medium having a computer readable program stored thereon, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

replace or replicate a first server, in communication with a first storage device, with a second server by;

identifying a set of protocols comprising one or more communication protocols that are supported by both;

(1) the first storage device connected to the first server and (2) the second server, not connected to the first storage device,

wherein a protocol that is supported by both the first storage device and the second server provides the means for the second server to read and write data to the first storage device;

selecting a protocol from the set of protocols;

configuring the first storage device, the second server, and associated connection devices, so that the second server establishes a connection and communicates with the first storage device to read and write data to the first storage device using the selected protocol, such that data stored on the first storage device is accessible to the second server in a storage area network; and

disconnecting the first storage device from the first server, once the second server directly communicates with the first storage device to read and write data from the first storage device using the selected protocol.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the second server replaces the first server.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the second server replicates the first server so that the first storage device remains connected to the first server.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the selecting is performed according to a prioritization algorithm that selects the selected protocol from the set of protocols based on factors such as physical distance, cost, or connection speed.

19. The computer program product of claim 15 that further causes the computer to maintain a database that includes configuration information about one or more of the first server, the first protocol, the first storage device, the second server, and the selected protocol or other protocols supported by other servers or storage devices in the network.

20. The computer program product of claim 15 that further causes the computer to transfer data from the first storage device to the second storage device, in response to determining that there are no protocols that are supported by both the first storage device and the second server.

23. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the first protocol is same as the selected protocol.