Method and system for managing storage area networks
View Patent ↗A method and system for managing storage devices is provided. The method includes determining during a boot process if a logical unit number (“LUN”) key exists; and proceeding to a phase 1 of the boot process if the LUN key does not exist or proceeding to a phase 2 of the boot process if the LUN key does exist.
1. A method for managing storage devices, comprising:
determining during a boot process if a logical unit number (“LUN”) key exists; and
proceeding to a phase 1 of the boot process if the LUN key does not exist or proceeding to a phase 2 of the boot process if the LUN key does exist.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein if the LUN key does not exist, then a LUN key is created for the phase 1 of the boot process.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the LUN key is added to a LUN list managed by a device specific module.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein a disk object is created in the phase 1 of the boot process.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein if the LUN key exists, then in the phase 2 of the boot process, the LUN is added to a device specific module path to a storage device.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein a multi-path object is created in the phase 2 of the boot process.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein if the boot process determines that the phase 1 is complete, then the multi-path object is initialized.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the boot process moves to the phase 2 when initialization is complete.
9. The method of clam 7 , wherein a multi-path input output layer requests load balancing if initialization is not complete.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the boot process proceeds to the phase 2 if an active path that allows access to the LUN key is found.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein a device specific module path commands a fail over to an alternate storage device if the active path is not found.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the active path is moved to the alternate storage device by the device specific module path.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the boot process determines if an alternate LUN path is ready.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein if the alternate LUN path is ready, a disk object is made available.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein if the alternate LUN path is not ready, the boot process waits for a programmable period of time.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the boot process determines if additional active paths are available if a timeout occurs.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein passive paths are used if the additional active paths are not ready and the boot process proceeds to the phase 2 .
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the boot process determines if the disk object is registered.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the boot process makes the disk object available if the disk object is registered.
20. A networking system, comprising:
a computing system with a processor for executing computer executable code; and
a host bus adapter coupled to the computing system to interface with at least a storage device; wherein the processor executes code to determine during a boot process if a logical unit number (“LUN”) key exists; and proceeds to a phase 1 of the boot process if the LUN key does not exist or proceeds to a phase 2 of the boot process if the LUN key does exist.
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein if the LUN key does not exist, then a LUN key is created for the phase 1 of the boot process and added to a LUN list managed by a device specific module.
22. The system of claim 20 , wherein if the LUN key exists, then in the phase 2 of the boot process, the LUN is added to a device specific module path to a storage device.
23. The system of claim 22 , wherein a multi-path object is created in the phase 2 of the boot process.
24. The system of claim 23 , wherein if the boot process determines that the phase 1 is complete, then the multi-path object is initialized.
25. The system of claim 20 , wherein the processor executes a multi-path input output layer with a multi-path disk driver, coupled to a device specific module to determine if a particular device is supported by the networking system; and the multi-path disk driver claims ownership of the particular device upon identification and association by the device specific module.
26. The system of claim 25 , further comprising a PNP manager coupled to the multi-path input output layer.