Technique for implementing virtual fabric membership assignments for devices in a storage area network
A technique is provided for facilitating fabric membership login for an N_Port of a storage area network. A communication from a network node is received. The communication may include a portion of criteria associated with the N_Port. Using at least a portion of the portion of criteria, a virtual fabric identifier corresponding to a virtual fabric which is associated with the N_Port may be automatically identified. Fabric configuration information, which includes the virtual fabric identifier, may be automatically provided to the network node. A fabric login request from the N_Port to login to the virtual fabric may then be received. According to a specific embodiment, the communication may be transmitted from a network node to an F_Port on a Fiber Channel switch. When the N_Port received the fabric configuration information from the F_Port, the generating, using at least a portion of the received fabric configuration information, a fabric login request message may be generated by the N_Port which includes a fabric login request for the N_Port to login to the virtual fabric corresponding to the virtual fabric identifier. In at least one implementation, the N_Port and/or F_Port may be configured or designed to support trunking functionality.
1. A method for automatically responding to changing conditions in a storage area network, the method comprising:
detecting by a network device a first network change event, wherein the first network change event relates to a modification of a configuration of a first VSAN-N_Port association;
determining a type of the first network change event;
identifying a first N_Port of the first VSAN-N_Port association, wherein the first VSAN-N_Port association includes at least one N_Port configured for use in a respective virtual storage area network;
identifying a first VSAN of the first VSAN-N_Port association;
determining that the first N_Port is logged in at the first VSAN based on, at least in part, the type of the first network change event;
identifying a first F_Port associated with the first VSAN;
identifying a first member that is logged in to the first VSAN via the first F_Port; and
transmitting instructions to a host of the first N_Port or a first member logged into the first VSAN via the first N_Port to perform a logoff operation.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying a second N_Port of a second VSAN-N_Port association;
identifying a second VSAN of the second VSAN-N_Port association; and
in response to determining that the second VSAN-N_Port association has been deleted, performing a second action.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
determining whether the second N_Port is currently logged into the second VSAN;
wherein performing the second action includes notifying a host of the second N_Port to perform a logoff operation of the second N_Port from the second VSAN in response to a determination that the second N_Port is currently logged into the second VSAN.
4. A Fibre Channel switch in a storage area network, the Fibre Channel switch comprising:
at least one processor;
at least one first F_Port configured or designed to provide an interface to at least one other network device in the storage area network; and
memory;
the switch being operable to:
detect by a network device a first network change event, wherein the first network change event relates to a modification of a configuration of a first VSAN-N_Port association;
determine a type of the first network change event;
identify a first N_Port of the first VSAN-N_Port association, wherein the first VSAN-N_Port association includes at least one N_Port configured for use in a respective virtual storage area network;
identify a first VSAN of the first VSAN-N_Port association; and
ascertain that the first N_Port is logged in to the first VSAN based on, at least in part, the type of the first network change event; and
transmit instructions to a host of the first N_Port or a first member logged in to the first VSAN via the first N_Port to perform a logoff operation in response to the detection of the first network change event.
5. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 4 wherein the type of the first network change event indicates that the first VSAN-N_Port association has been deleted.
6. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 4 being further operable to:
determine whether the first N_Port is currently logged into a second VSAN which is different from the first VSAN.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether the first N_Port is currently logged into a second VSAN which is different from the first V SAN.
8. A method for automatically responding to changing conditions in a storage area network, the method comprising:
detecting by a network device a first network change event, wherein the first network change event relates to a modification of a configuration of a first VSAN-N_Port association;
determining a type of the first network change event;
identifying a first N_Port of a first VSAN-N_Port association, wherein the first VSAN-N_Port association includes at least one N_Port configured for use in a respective virtual storage area network;
identifying a first VSAN of the first VSAN-N_Port association;
determining that the type of the first network change event indicates that the first VSAN-N_Port association is new;
determining that the first N_Port is logged in at the first VSAN based on, at least in part, the type of the first network change event;
transmitting instructions to a host logged into the first VSAN via the first N_Port or first member logged into the first VSAN via the first N_Port that instruct the host or first member to perform a first action.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
determining whether the first N_Port is currently logged into a second VSAN which is different from the first VSAN.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
identifying a first F_Port associated with the first VSAN;
identifying the first member that is logged in to the first VSAN via the first F_Port; and
transmitting instructions to the identified first member to perform the first action in response to the detection of the first network change event.
11. A method, comprising:
detecting by a network device a first network change event, wherein the first network change event relates to a modification of a configuration of a first VSAN-N_Port association;
determining a type of the first network change event;
identifying a first N_Port of a first VSAN-N_Port association, wherein the first VSAN-N_Port association includes at least one N_Port configured for use in a respective virtual storage area network;
identifying a first VSAN of the first VSAN-N_Port association;
determining by a network device that the type of the first network change event indicates that the first VSAN-N_Port association has been deleted;
determining by the network device whether the first N_Port is currently logged into the first VSAN based on, at least in part, the type of the first network change event; and
notifying by the network device a host of the first N_Port, wherein notifying includes sending instructions to the host to instruct the host to perform a logoff operation of the first N_Port from the first VSAN in response to a determination that the first N_Port is currently logged into the first VSAN.
12. The Fibre Channel switch of claim 4 , the switch being operable to perform further steps, comprising:
identify a first F_Port associated with the first VSAN;
identify a first member that is logged in to the first VSAN via the first F_Port;
wherein performing an action includes transmitting instructions to the identified first member to perform a first action in response to the detection of the first network change event.