Storage system with network-wide configurable device names
A storage system in one embodiment comprises at least one storage array comprising a plurality of storage devices. The storage array is configured to communicate over one or more networks with a plurality of host devices. The storage array is further configured to receive one or more commands from a given one of the host devices directing that a particular user-defined name be assigned to a particular one of the storage devices, and responsive to receipt of the one or more commands, to determine if any other user-defined name is already assigned to the particular storage device, and if there is no other user-defined name already assigned to the particular storage device, to assign the particular user-defined name to the particular storage device and to store information characterizing the assignment of the particular user-defined name to the particular storage device in persistent memory of the storage array.
1. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory;
said at least one processing device being configured:
to assign in a storage array a user-defined device name to a particular one of a plurality of storage devices of the storage array; and
to store information characterizing the assignment of the particular user-defined name to the particular storage device in persistent memory of the storage array;
wherein the user-defined device name is assigned to the particular storage device responsive to a request from a host device to assign the user-defined device name to that storage device; and
wherein assigning the user-defined device name to the particular storage device comprises assigning the user-defined device name responsive to a determination by the storage array that the request includes a force command.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one processing device is implemented in the storage array.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the storage array is configured to communicate with the host device and one or more additional host devices over a network.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the particular user-defined name assigned to the particular storage device is utilized consistently by the host devices to identify the particular storage device within a storage-area network that includes the storage array.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said at least one processing device is further configured to provide from the storage array to another one of the host devices the user-defined device name for the particular storage device.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the persistent memory comprises a non-volatile electronic memory of the storage array.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein assigning the user-defined device name to the particular storage device comprises assigning the user-defined device name responsive to a determination by the storage array that no other user-defined name is already assigned by the storage array to the particular storage device.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the request comprises one or more commands received by the storage array from the host device over a network.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the request comprises at least a subset of:
another user-defined name already assigned to the particular storage device;
the particular user-defined name proposed for assignment to the particular storage device;
a unique identifier generated by the host device for the particular user-defined name;
a host name of the host device; and
at least one embedded command.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the request comprises a replace command, the replace command directing the storage array to replace any other user-defined name already assigned to the particular storage device with the particular user-defined name.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the request comprises a lock command, the lock command directing the storage array not to make any further change in the assignment of the particular user-defined name to the particular storage device absent receipt of another force command.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the force command overrides a previously-received lock command for another user-defined name already assigned to the particular storage device.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the request is received in the storage array from a multi-path input-output driver of the host device.
14. A method comprising:
assigning in a storage array a user-defined device name to a particular one of a plurality of storage devices of the storage array; and
storing information characterizing the assignment of the particular user-defined name to the particular storage device in persistent memory of the storage array;
wherein the user-defined device name is assigned to the particular storage device responsive to a request from a host device to assign the user-defined device name to that storage device;
wherein assigning the user-defined device name to the particular storage device comprises assigning the user-defined device name responsive to a determination by the storage array that the request includes a force command; and
wherein the method is performed by at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein assigning the user-defined device name to the particular storage device comprises assigning the user-defined device name responsive to a determination by the storage array that no other user-defined name is already assigned by the storage array to the particular storage device.
16. 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 at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory, causes said at least one processing device:
to assign in a storage array a user-defined device name to a particular one of a plurality of storage devices of the storage array; and
to store information characterizing the assignment of the particular user-defined name to the particular storage device in persistent memory of the storage array;
wherein the user-defined device name is assigned to the particular storage device responsive to a request from a host device to assign the user-defined device name to that storage device; and
wherein assigning the user-defined device name to the particular storage device comprises assigning the user-defined device name responsive to a determination by the storage array that the request includes a force command.
17. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein assigning the user-defined device name to the particular storage device comprises assigning the user-defined device name responsive to a determination by the storage array that no other user-defined name is already assigned by the storage array to the particular storage device.
18. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the request comprises a replace command, the replace command directing the storage array to replace any other user-defined name already assigned to the particular storage device with the particular user-defined name.
19. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the request comprises a lock command, the lock command directing the storage array not to make any further change in the assignment of the particular user-defined name to the particular storage device absent receipt of another force command.
20. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the force command overrides a previously-received lock command for another user-defined name already assigned to the particular storage device.