Portable device for fibre channel configuration and analysis

1. A portable device for analyzing and configuring a fibre channel link and topology in a computing environment, comprising:

a network microchip programmed to select at least one of an available plurality of operating modes occurring in one of a simultaneous, a concurrent, and a consecutive configuration based on a first user input, wherein the plurality of operating modes include:

a manual speed selection mode for manually selecting a link speed based on a second user input,

an auto speed selection mode for automatically negotiating a highest supported link speed,

an auto topology negotiation mode for discovering and reporting all possible port configurations, and

a manual topology selection mode for selecting a fibre channel topology based on a third user input.

2. The portable device of claim 1 , wherein the network microchip is integrated into a portable housing.

3. The portable device of claim 1 , further including:

an input, integrated into the portable housing, the input in communication with the network microchip for connection to the fibre channel topology;

a microprocessor in communication with the network microchip for executing computer instructions relating to the plurality of operating modes; and

a memory in communication with the network microchip for storing computer instructions relating to the plurality of operating modes.

4. The portable device of claim 3 , further including an indicator to display an operating status.

5. The portable device of claim 3 , further including an interface for receiving the first user input or displaying an operating status.

6. The portable device of claim 1 , wherein:

the auto speed selection mode is adapted to report a failure to negotiate a first link speed and a successful negotiation of a second link speed to the user,

the auto topology negotiation mode is adapted to report a failure to negotiate a first port configuration and a successful negotiation of a second port configuration to the user, and

the manual topology selection mode is adapted to report a failure to negotiate a third port configuration and a successful negotiation of a fourth port configuration to the user.

7. The portable device of claim 1 , wherein the network microchip supports a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) communication protocol.

8. A method for analyzing and configuring a fibre channel link and topology in a computing environment using a portable device, comprising:

selecting at least one of an available plurality of operating modes occurring in one of a simultaneous, a concurrent, and a consecutive configuration based on a first user input; and

executing the at least one operating mode, wherein executing the at least one operating mode includes at least one of:

manually selecting a link speed based on a second user input,

automatically negotiating a highest supported link speed,

discovering and reporting all possible port configurations, and

manually selecting a network topology based on a third user input.

9. The method of claim 8 , further including receiving the first user input.

10. The method of claim 8 , further including indicating an operating status of executing the at least one operating mode.

11. The method of claim 8 , further including displaying at least one of the link speed, the highest supported link speed, a port configuration, and the fibre channel topology to the user.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein automatically negotiating a highest supported link speed includes at least one of:

reporting a failure to negotiate a first link speed, and

reporting a successful negotiation of a second link speed.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein discovering and reporting all possible port configurations includes at least one of:

reporting a failure to negotiate a first port configuration, and

reporting a successful negotiation of a second port configuration.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein manually selecting a fibre channel topology based on a third user input includes at least one of:

reporting a failure to negotiate a first port configuration, and

reporting a successful negotiation of a second port configuration.

15. The method of claim 8 , further including:

issuing a Fabric LOGIn (FLOGI) or an Exchange Link Parameter (ELP), or discovering an F-Port or E-Port, and

reporting a port type to the user.

16. The method of claim 15 , further including previous to issuing a FLOGI or an ELP, performing a port or loop initialization.

17. A computer program product for analyzing and configuring a fibre channel link and topology in a computing environment using a portable device, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion for selecting at least one of an available plurality of operating modes occurring in one of a simultaneous, a concurrent, and a consecutive configuration based on a first user input; and

a second executable portion for executing the at least one operating mode, wherein executing the at least one operating mode includes at least one of:

manually selecting a link speed based on a second user input,

automatically negotiating a highest supported link speed,

discovering and reporting all possible port configurations, and

manually selecting a fibre channel topology based on a third user input.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 , further including:

a third executable portion for receiving the first user input, and

a fourth executable portion for displaying at least one of the link speed, the highest support link speed, a port configuration, and the fibre channel topology to the user.

19. The computer program product of claim 17 , further including a third executable portion for indicating an operating status of executing the at least one operating mode.

20. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the second executable portion for executing the at least one operating mode includes a third executable portion for:

reporting a failure to negotiate a first link speed,

reporting a successful negotiation of a second link speed,

reporting a failure to negotiate a first port configuration, and

reporting a successful negotiation of a second port configuration.