Systems and methods for testing device ports in a storage area network

1. A method executing on a hardware computing system for configuring a switch element having a plurality of ports to operate as a test tool, the switch element being connected to a network, the method comprising the steps of:

initiating a user interface with a plurality of selectable options, where a user selects one or more of the selectable options for configuring test parameters for a selected one of the ports to operate as a test port;

obtaining a license key for configuring the selected port to operate as the test port;

selecting a frame type for transmitting frames from the test port;

specifying characteristics for the frames transmitted by the test port;

determining whether the test port is online or offline;

enabling a transmitter of the test port;

starting a link state machine of the test port;

the test port receiving an active signal or an active primitive to thereby activate the test port;

the test port logging into the network; and

the test port logging into a target device of the network.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of logging the test port into the network comprises sending a fabric login primitive (FLOGI) to the test port.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of logging the test port into the network further comprises verifying that the FLOGI was sent properly.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of logging the test port into the network further comprises receiving acknowledgement that the test port received the FLOGI.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of logging the test port into the target device comprises sending a port login primitive (PLOGI) to the target device.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of logging the test port into the target device further comprises verifying that the PLOGI was sent properly.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of logging the test port into the target device further comprises receiving acknowledgement that the target device received the PLOGI.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of generating traffic between the test port and a target device.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the traffic comprises data frames.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of the test port creating a log file having information regarding the traffic.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of the test port obtaining addresses of a plurality of target devices from a fabric nameserver via a Fibre Channel Layer 4 (FC-4) device type query.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the steps of generating traffic from the test port to successive ones of the plurality of target devices, wherein traffic to each of the target devices continues for a preset interval after which the test port generates traffic to a next one of the plurality of target devices.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frame characteristics include at least one of frame data patterns, frame lengths, frame counts, whether the frames are to be repeated forever in hardware, whether the frames are to be generated in software, whether frames are to be sent from user defined files, and whether operationally acquired source identifier (S_ID) and destination identifier (D_ID) should replace user defined S_ID/D_ID within frame files.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active signal or active primitive is received from firmware of the switch element.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining whether the target device has been configured.

16. A system for testing storage area network device configuration, comprising:

a plurality of ports coupled to a switch element with a plurality of switch ports; and

a computing system executing a user interface, the user interface providing a plurality of selectable options to a user to configure one or more of the switch ports to operate as a test port; wherein the user (a) selects one or more of the selectable options for configuring test parameters for a selected one of the switch ports to operate as a test port; (b) obtains a license key for configuring the selected port to operate as the test port; (c) selects a frame type for transmitting frames from the test port; (d) specifies characteristics for the frames transmitted by the test port; (e) enables a transmitter of the test port; (f) starts a link state machine of the test port; and (g) the test port logs into a target device of a network.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the switch element is a Fibre Channel switch element and based on a user selection, Fibre Channel traffic is generated between the test port and the target device.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the frame characteristics include at least one of frame data patterns, frame lengths, frame counts, whether the frames are to be repeated forever in hardware, whether the frames are to be generated in software, whether frames are to be sent from user defined files, and whether operationally acquired source identifier (S_ID) and destination identifier (D_ID) should replace user defined S_ID/D_ID within frame files.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the test port creates a log file having information regarding the traffic generated between the test port and the target device.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the switch element is a non-Fibre Channel switch element and based on a user selection, network traffic is generated between the test port and the target device.