METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING NETWORK ADDRESSES IN A CLUSTERED STORAGE ENVIRONMENT
Methods and systems are provided for a clustered storage system. The method assigns a network access address to a virtual network interface card (VNIC) at a first cluster node of a clustered storage system, where a physical network interface card assigned to the network access address is managed by a second cluster node of the clustered storage system; and use the VNIC by a virtual storage server at the first cluster node to communicate on behalf of the second cluster node.
1 . A machine implemented method, comprising:
assigning a network access address to a virtual network interface card (VNIC) at a first cluster node of a clustered storage system, where a physical network interface card assigned to the network access address is managed by a second cluster node of the clustered storage system; and
using the VNIC by a virtual storage server at the first cluster node to communicate on behalf of the second cluster node.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first cluster node and the second cluster node store an address data structure for storing a plurality of network access addresses used by a plurality of virtual storage servers executed by at least the first cluster node and the second cluster node.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the address data structure is updated when the network access address is assigned to the VNIC.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the network access address is an Internet Protocol address that is assigned to the physical network interface card.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the VNIC sends a packet to the second cluster node for transmitting the packet outside the cluster storage system.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first cluster node makes a port reservation with the second cluster node to use the network access address to communicate on behalf of the second cluster node.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein an address data structure stores a port identifier for a port reserved by the first cluster node.
8 . A non-transitory, machine readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions for performing a method, comprising machine executable code which when executed by at least one machine, causes the machine to:
assign a network access address to a virtual network interface card (VNIC) at a first cluster node of a clustered storage system, where a physical network interface card assigned to the network access address is managed by a second cluster node of the clustered storage system; and
use the VNIC by a virtual storage server at the first cluster node to communicate on behalf of the second cluster node.
9 . The storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the first cluster node and the second cluster node store an address data structure for storing a plurality of network access addresses used by a plurality of virtual storage servers executed by at least the first cluster node and the second cluster node.
10 . The storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the address data structure is updated when the network access address is assigned to the VNIC.
11 . The storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the network access address is an Internet Protocol address that is assigned to the physical network interface card.
12 . The storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the VNIC sends a packet to the second cluster node for transmitting the packet outside the cluster storage system.
13 . The storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the first cluster node makes a port reservation with the second cluster node to use the network access address to communicate on behalf of the second cluster node.
14 . The storage medium of claim 13 , wherein an address data structure stores a port identifier for a port reserved by the first cluster node.
15 . A system comprising:
a memory containing machine readable medium comprising machine executable code having stored thereon instructions; and a processor module coupled to the memory, the processor module configured to execute the machine executable code to:
assign a network access address to a virtual network interface card (VNIC) at a first cluster node of a clustered storage system, where a physical network interface card assigned to the network access address is managed by a second cluster node of the clustered storage system; and
use the VNIC by a virtual storage server at the first cluster node to communicate on behalf of the second cluster node.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the first cluster node and the second cluster node store an address data structure for storing a plurality of network access addresses used by a plurality of virtual storage servers executed by at least the first cluster node and the second cluster node.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the address data structure is updated when the network access address is assigned to the VNIC.
18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the network access address is an Internet Protocol address that is assigned to the physical network interface card.
19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the VNIC sends a packet to the second cluster node for transmitting the packet outside the cluster storage system.
20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the first cluster node makes a port reservation with the second cluster node to use the network access address to communicate on behalf of the second cluster node.