IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,990,800
Granted Patent B2
US 8,990,800 · App. 12/353,528 · Granted Mar 24, 2015

System and method for increased system availability to network storage in virtualized environments

Inventors: Jacob Cherian (Austin, TX); Gaurav Chawla (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F9/45558G06F2009/4557G06F2009/45579
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,990,800
App. No.
12/353,528
Filed
Jan 14, 2009
Granted
Mar 24, 2015
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2183
USPC
718/1
Abstract

A method may include a hypervisor instantiating a virtual machine including an initiator client and the hypervisor determining whether a virtualized information handling system is interfaced to an associated storage resource via an offload host bus adapter (HBA). If the virtualized information handling system is interfaced to the associated storage resource via an offload HBA, the hypervisor may execute an adapter driver for the HBA, the adapter driver for communicating input/output communications between the virtual machine and the associated storage resource via the offload HBA. If the virtualized information handling system is interfaced to the associated storage resource via another adapter other than an offload HBA, the hypervisor may execute an emulator, the emulator for emulating the functionality of the adapter driver for the HBA and for communicating input/output communications between the virtual machine and the associated storage resource via the other adapter.

Claims (32)

1. A method for increasing system availability in a virtualized information handling system including a hypervisor allowing multiple virtual machines to run on the virtualized information handling system, comprising:

the hypervisor instantiating a virtual machine including an initiator client, the virtual machine being migrated from a previous information handling system (IHS);

the hypervisor determining whether the virtualized information handling system was previously interfaced to an associated storage resource via an offload host bus adapter on the previous IHS;

the hypervisor determining whether the virtualized information handling system was previously interfaced to an associated storage resource via another adapter other than an offload host bus adapter on the previous IHS;

if the virtualized information handling system was previously interfaced to the associated storage resource via an offload host bus adapter, the hypervisor executing an adapter driver for the host bus adapter, the adapter driver for communicating input/output communications between the virtual machine and the associated storage resource via the offload host bus adapter; and

if the virtualized information handling system was previously interfaced to the associated storage resource via another adapter other than an offload host bus adapter, the hypervisor executing an emulator, the emulator for emulating the functionality of the adapter driver for the host bus adapter and for communicating input/output communications between the virtual machine and the associated storage resource via the other adapter.

2. A method according to claim 1 , the initiator client comprising an iSCSI initiator.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the other adapter includes a TCP offload engine.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the other adapter includes an L2 network interface card.

5. An article of manufacture comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium; and

computer-executable instructions carried on the non-transitory computer readable medium, the instructions executable by one or more processors, to:

instantiate a virtual machine on a virtualized information handling system, the virtual machine including an initiator client, the virtual machine being migrated from a previous information handling system (IHS);

determine whether the information handling system was previously interfaced to an associated storage resource via an offload host bus adapter on the previous IHS;

determine whether the information handling system was previously interfaced to an associated storage resource via another adapter other than an offload host bus adapter on the previous IHS;

if the virtualized information handling system was previously interfaced to the associated storage resource via an offload host bus adapter, execute an adapter driver for the host bus adapter, the adapter driver for communicating input/output communications between the virtual machine and the associated storage resource via the offload host bus adapter; and

if the virtualized information handling system was previously interfaced to the associated storage resource via another adapter other than an offload host bus adapter, execute an emulator, the emulator for emulating the functionality of the adapter driver for the host bus adapter and for communicating an input/output communications between the virtual machine and the associated storage resource via the other adapter.

6. An article of manufacture according to claim 5 , the initiator client comprising an iSCSI initiator.

7. An article of manufacture according to claim 5 , wherein the other adapter includes a TCP offload engine.

8. An article of manufacture according to claim 5 , wherein the other adapter includes an L2 network interface card.

9. An information handling system comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory communicatively coupled to the one or more processors; and

computer-executable instructions carried on a non-transitory computer readable medium, the instructions executable by the one or more processors to:

instantiate a virtual machine on the information handling system, the virtual machine including an initiator client, the virtual machine being migrated from a previous information handling system (IHS);

determine whether the information handling system was previously interfaced to an associated storage resource via an offload host bus on the previous IHS;

determine whether the information handling system was previously interfaced to an associated storage resource via another adapter other than an offload host bus adapter on the previous IHS;

if the information handling system was previously interfaced to the associated storage resource via an offload host bus adapter, execute an adapter driver for the host bus adapter, the adapter driver for communicating input/output communications between the virtual machine and the associated storage resource via the offload host bus adapter; and

if the information handling system was previously interfaced to the associated storage resource via another adapter other than an offload host bus adapter, execute an emulator, the emulator for emulating the functionality of the adapter driver for the host bus adapter and for communicating input/output communications between the virtual machine and the associated storage resource via the other adapter.

10. An information handling system according to claim 9 , the initiator client comprising an iSCSI initiator.

11. An information handling system according to claim 9 , wherein the other adapter includes a TCP offload engine.

12. An information handling system according to claim 9 , wherein the other adapter includes an L2 network interface card.

Assignments (15)
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 IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
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 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
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 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2009
From: CHERIAN, JACOB; CHAWLA, GAURAV
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 022244/0585 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100180274A1 · Jul 15, 2010