IP Library Granted Patent US 11,204,699
Granted Patent B2
US 11,204,699 · App. 16/810,025 · Granted Dec 21, 2021

Storage system port maintenance information sharing with host device

Inventors: Gopinath Marappan (Coimbatore, IN); Madhu Tarikere (Bangalore, IN); Vinay G. Rao (Bangalore, IN)
Assignee: EMC IP Holding Company LLC
G06F3/0617G06F3/067G06F3/0655G06F13/16G06F2213/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,204,699
App. No.
16/810,025
Granted
Dec 21, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus comprises a processing device comprising a processor coupled to memory. The processing device is configured to obtain maintenance information comprising an indication that a port of a storage system is scheduled for a maintenance activity and to determine that a host device utilizes the port for communication with the storage system. The processing device is further configured to issue an alert to the host device. The alert is configured to cause the host device to set a path associated with the port to a standby mode. The standby mode is configured to inhibit input-output operations from being submitted to the storage system along the path.

Claims (66)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processing device comprising a processor coupled to memory, the processing device being configured:

to obtain maintenance information from a storage system, the maintenance information comprising an indication that a port of the storage system is scheduled for a future maintenance activity;

to determine that a host device utilizes the port for communication with the storage system via a first network;

to issue an alert, via a second network that is different than the first network, the alert being configured to cause the host device to set a path associated with the port to a standby mode prior to the future maintenance activity, the standby mode being configured to inhibit input-output operations from being submitted to the storage system along the path;

wherein the host device is configured to set the path to an active mode based at least in part on a determination by the host device that the path associated with the port did not become unavailable due to the port maintenance activity and a threshold amount of time has passed since the alert was issued.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein obtaining the maintenance information comprises obtaining the maintenance information from the storage system via at least one of the second network and at least one other network that is different than the first network.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

obtaining the maintenance information from the storage system via the at least one of the second network and the at least one other network comprises submitting at least one query to the storage system; and

receiving the maintenance information in response to the submitted at least one query.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the storage system is configured to indicate to the processing device that the port is scheduled for the maintenance activity; and

obtaining the maintenance information comprises receiving the indication that the port is scheduled for the maintenance activity from the storage system.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the processing device is configured to determine a list of ports of the storage system, the list of ports comprising the port;

the processing device is configured to present an interface to a user, the interface being configured to present the list of ports to the user;

obtaining the maintenance information comprises receiving an activation of a maintenance element associated with the port in the interface; and

the host device is configured to set the path to the active mode based at least in part on a second alert issued by the processing device, the second alert being configured to cause the host device to set the path to the active mode.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein:

the interface is configured to determine a set of host devices that correspond to each port in the list of ports;

the interface is configured to present the set of host devices in association with the list of ports to the user; and

determining that the host device utilizes the port for communication with the storage system comprises determining that the host device is included in the set of host devices that correspond to the port.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the host device is configured to set the path to the active mode based at least in part a determination by the host device that the path became unavailable due to the port maintenance activity followed by a determination by the host device that the path is available.

8. A method comprising:

obtaining maintenance information from a storage system, the maintenance information comprising an indication that a port of the storage system is scheduled for a future maintenance activity;

determining that a host device utilizes the port for communication with the storage system via a first network; and

issuing an alert, via a second network that is different than the first network, the alert being configured to cause the host device to set a path associated with the port to a standby mode prior to the future maintenance activity, the standby mode being configured to inhibit input-output operations from being submitted to the storage system along the path;

wherein the host device is configured to set the path to an active mode based at least in part on a determination by the host device that the path associated with the port did not become unavailable due to the port maintenance activity and a threshold amount of time has passed since the alert was issued;

wherein the method is implemented by a processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein obtaining the maintenance information comprises obtaining the maintenance information from the storage system via at least one of the second network and at least one other network that is different than the first network.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein:

obtaining the maintenance information from the storage system via the at least one of the second network and the at least one other network comprises submitting at least one query to the storage system; and

receiving the maintenance information in response to the submitted at least one query.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein:

the storage system is configured to indicate to the processing device that the port is scheduled for the maintenance activity; and

obtaining the maintenance information comprises receiving the indication that the port is scheduled for the maintenance activity from the storage system.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the method further comprises:

determining a list of ports of the storage system, the list of ports comprising the port; and

presenting an interface to a user, the interface being configured to present the list of ports to the user;

wherein obtaining the maintenance information comprises receiving an activation of a maintenance element associated with the port in the interface; and

the host device is configured to set the path to the active mode based at least in part on a second alert issued by the processing device, the second alert being configured to cause the host device to set the path to the active mode.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the method further comprises:

determining a set of host devices that correspond to each port in the list of ports; and

presenting the set of host devices in association with the list of ports to the user; and

wherein determining that the host device utilizes the port for communication with the storage system comprises determining that the host device is included in the set of host devices that correspond to the port.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the host device is configured to set the path to the active mode based at least in part on a determination by the host device that the path became unavailable due to the port maintenance activity followed by a determination by the host device that the path is available.

15. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored therein program code of one or more software programs, wherein the program code, when executed by a processing device comprising a processor coupled to memory, causes the processing device:

to obtain maintenance information from a storage system, the maintenance information comprising an indication that a port of the storage system is scheduled for a future maintenance activity;

to determine that a host device utilizes the port for communication with the storage system via a first network; and

to issue an alert, via a second network that is different than the first network, the alert being configured to cause the host device to set a path associated with the port to a standby mode prior to the future maintenance activity, the standby mode being configured to inhibit input-output operations from being submitted to the storage system along the path;

wherein the host device is configured to set the path to an active mode based at least in part on a determination by the host device that the path associated with the port did not become unavailable due to the port maintenance activity and a threshold amount of time has passed since the alert was issued.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein obtaining the maintenance information comprises obtaining the maintenance information from the storage system via at least one of the second network and at least one other network that is different than the first network.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein:

obtaining the maintenance information from the storage system via the at least one of the second network and the at least one other network comprises submitting at least one query to the storage system; and

receiving the maintenance information in response to the submitted at least one query.

18. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein:

the storage system is configured to indicate to the processing device that the port is scheduled for the maintenance activity; and

obtaining the maintenance information comprises receiving the indication that the port is scheduled for the maintenance activity from the storage system.

19. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the program code further causes the processing device:

to determine a list of ports of the storage system and a set of host devices that correspond to each port in the list of ports, the list of ports comprising the port; and

to present an interface to a user, the interface being configured to present the list of ports and the set of host devices in association with the list of ports to the user; and

wherein:

obtaining the maintenance information comprises receiving an activation of a maintenance element associated with the port in the interface;

determining that the host device utilizes the port for communication with the storage system comprises determining that the host device is included in the set of host devices that correspond to the port; and

the host device is configured to set the path to the active mode based at least in part on a second alert issued by the processing device, the second alert being configured to cause the host device to set the path to the active mode.

20. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the host device is configured to set the path to the active mode based at least in part on a determination by the host device that the path became unavailable due to the port maintenance activity followed by a determination by the host device that the path is available.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (052851/0917) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060436/0509 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (052852/0022) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060436/0582 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (052851/0081) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060436/0441 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053311/0169) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060438/0742 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 052771 FRAME 0906 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058001/0298 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052852/0022 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052851/0081 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052851/0917 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053311/0169 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 28, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 052771/0906 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2020
From: MARAPPAN, GOPINATH; TARIKERE, MADHU; RAO, VINAY G.
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 052027/0448 →
Continuity (1)
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