Method and system for multi-user channel allocation for a multi-channel analyzer
View Patent ↗Multiple channels of a multi-channel analyzer are allocated among multiple users such that each user can initiate and retrieve the results of separate diagnostic sessions. Each analyzer channel includes an input connection port, a trace buffer memory and logic circuitry. Each input connection port is operably connected to a unique node in the communication network. A host processor connected to each analyzer channel assigns ownership of a unique set of analyzer channel to at least two different users such that each user can initiate separate traces that are simultaneously established on the connection port at each node in accordance with a set of instructions established by the user assigned to the analyzer channel for that node, and the traces are captured in response to the set of instructions for each analyzer channel such that each user retrieves only the results of the analyzer channels assigned to that user.
1. A multi-channel analyzer for a communication network comprising:
at least three analyzer channels, each analyzer channel uniquely including:
at least an input connection port to the communication network unique to that analyzer channel;
a trace buffer memory; and
logic circuitry that controls selective write operations of traces from the input connection port to the trace buffer memory for that analyzer channel in response to a status condition and a set of instructions established by a user assigned to that analyzer channel that define a testing session; and
a host processor operably connected to each logic circuitry that receives high level commands for configuring and controlling the multi-channel analyzer; wherein the host processor configures and controls each of the analyzer channels in response to an allocation to one of a plurality of users such that different users can initiate and retrieve traces from separate testing sessions that are simultaneously established on the communication network.
2. The analyzer system of claim 1 , wherein the communication network is a Fibre Channel communication network.
3. The analyzer system of claim 1 , wherein each of the analyzer channels further includes a hardware search engine coupled to the trace buffer memory.
4. The analyzer of claim 1 , wherein the logic circuitry including at least one processor, each processor having an associated instruction memory programmable with an independent set of instructions for that processor.
5. The analyzer of claim 4 , wherein the instruction memory is selectively allocated to store instructions for monitoring multiple different status conditions on a programmable basis.
6. The analyzer of claim 1 , wherein the host processor further provides for multiple channel analyzers in a unique set of a given user to be grouped into a plurality of groups such that each group can initiate and retrieve the results of separate traces that are simultaneously established an the communication network.
7. The analyzer of claim 1 , wherein the host processor includes a graphical user interface for controlling the assignment of users to analyzer channels.
8. A multi-channel analyzer system for analyzing a communication network, comprising:
a multi-channel analyzer having at least three distinct analyzer channels, whereby each analyzer channel includes:
at least one distinct input connection port to the communication network for that analyzer channel;
a trace buffer memory; and
logic circuitry controlling selective write operations of traces from the input connection port for that analyzer channel to the trace buffer memory in response to a status condition and a set of instructions established by a user allocated to that analyzer channel that define a testing session; and
a host processor operably connected to each logic circuitry for selectively configuring and controlling the multi-channel analyzer for use by a plurality of users, wherein the host processor selectively allocates control of at least one of the analyzer channels to the plurality of users in response to directions by at least one user, such that the plurality of user can initiate and retrieve traces from separate testing sessions simultaneously running on the multi-channel analyzer system.
9. The multi-channel analyzer system of claim 8 , wherein each user selectively defines at least one data capturing strategy parameter for the testing session for that user.
10. The multi-channel analyzer system of claim 8 , wherein the testing session is configured without programming.
11. The multi-channel analyzer system of claim 8 , wherein a status indicator is displayed for each analyzer channel of a selected multi-channel analyzer, and wherein the status indicator displayed is selected from a group consisting of indicating that an analyzer channel is available for selection, indicating that an analyzer channel has previously been selected by another of the users, and indicating that an analyzer channel has previously been selected by the user.
12. A multi-channel analyzer computer system for analyzing a communication network, comprising:
a multi-channel analyzer having at least three separate analyzer channels, whereby each analyzer channel includes:
at least separate input connection port to the communication network;
a trace buffer memory; and
logic circuitry controlling selective write operations of traces from the input connection port for that analyzer channel to the trace buffer memory in response to a status condition and a set of instructions established by a user assumed to that analyzer channel that define a testing session; and
means operably connected to each logic circuitry for selectively configuring and controlling the multi-channel analyzer for use by a plurality of users, wherein the means selectively allocates control of at least one of the analyzer channels to one of the users in response to directions by the user, so that the user can initiate and retrieve traces from a testing session simultaneously established with other testing sessions for different analyzer channels.