Method and system for managing ports in a host bus adapter

1. A host bus adapter (HBA) operationally coupled to a host system, comprising:

an active port having a transceiver so that the active port is enabled for use in a storage area network; and

an inactive port lacking a transceiver so that the inactive port is not enabled for use in the storage area network, but which may be enabled after a user acquires a transceiver with a built-in security key for activating the inactive port, wherein the HBA reads the built-in security key from the transceiver, validates the built-in security-key read from the acquired transceiver and presents a function to the host system based on which a driver for the function is initiated to enable the function for the inactive port.

2. The HBA of claim 1 , wherein the host system operationally coupled to the HBA downloads a software component to enable the function for the inactive port.

3. The HBA of claim 1 , wherein the function is a PCI function.

4. The HBA of claim 1 , wherein the HBA operates in a Fibre Channel Network.

5. The HBA of claim 1 , wherein firmware for the HBA reads the built-in security key from the acquired transceiver.

6. A method for upgrading a host bus adapter having an active port and an inactive port operationally coupled to a host system, wherein the active port includes a transceiver so that the active port is enabled for use in a storage area network, and the inactive port lacks a transceiver so that the inactive port is not enabled for use in the storage area network, the method comprising:

acquiring a transceiver for the inactive port;

coupling the acquired transceiver to the inactive port, wherein the acquired transceiver stores a built-in security key;

validating the acquired transceiver by reading the built-in security key from the acquired transceiver;

presenting a function to the host system based on which a driver for the inactive port is initiated;

enabling the function for the inactive port;

downloading a software component for the inactive port to activate the inactive port; and

operating the host bus adapter with more than one functional port.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the software component is a part of a HBA driver.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the HBA operates in a Fibre Channel Network.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein HBA firmware reads the built-in security key.

10. A storage area network, comprising:

a host system that reads and writes information to a storage system; and

a host bus adapter (HBA) operationally coupled to the host system, the HBA including a first active port having a transceiver so that the active port is enabled for use in a storage area network; and an inactive port lacking a transceiver so that the inactive port is not enabled for use in the storage area network, but which may be enabled for use in the storage area network after a user acquires a transceiver with a built-in security key for activating the inactive port, wherein the HBA reads the built-in security key from the acquired transceiver, validates the built-in security key read from the acquired transceiver, and presents a function to the host system based on which a driver for a function is initiated, to enable the function for the inactive port.

11. The storage area network of claim 10 , wherein the host system downloads a software component to enable the function for the inactive port.

12. The storage area network of claim 10 , wherein the function is a PCI function.

13. The storage area network of claim 10 , wherein the HBA operates in a Fibre Channel Network.

14. The storage area network of claim 10 , wherein firmware for the HBA reads the built-in security key from the transceiver.

15. A network device, comprising:

an active port having a transceiver so that the active port is enabled for use in a network; and

an inactive port lacking a transceiver so that the inactive port is not enabled for use in a network, but which may be enabled after a user acquires a transceiver with a built-in security key; wherein the network device reads the built-in security key from the acquired transceiver, validates the built-in security-key read from the acquired transceiver, and presents a function to a computing system which initiates a driver for the function to enable the function for the inactive port.

16. The network device of claim 15 , wherein the computing system operationally coupled to the network device downloads a software component to enable the function for the inactive port.

17. The network device of claim 15 , wherein firmware for the network device stored in a non-volatile memory reads and validates the security key.

18. A method for enabling an inactive port in a network device, having at least one active port and the inactive port, wherein the active port includes a transceiver so that the active port is enabled for use in a network, and the inactive port lacks a transceiver so that the inactive port is not enabled for use in the network, the method comprising:

acquiring a transceiver for the inactive port;

coupling the acquired transceiver to the inactive port of the network device, wherein the acquired transceiver stores a built-in security key;

validating the acquired transceiver by reading the security key from the acquired transceiver;

presenting a function to a computing system;

initiating a driver for a function for the inactive port;

enabling the function for the inactive port:

downloading a software component for the inactive port to enable the inactive port; and

operating the network device with more than one functional port.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the network device reads the security key.