Storage area network configuration

Abstract

A method and system are provided for storage area network configuration across redundant fabrics. The method includes defining ( 501 ) a set of redundant fabrics ( 151, 152 ), wherein a fabric ( 151, 152 ) is a network between devices ( 111 - 114, 121 - 122 ) of a storage area network ( 150 ). A first fabric ( 151 ) communicates ( 502 ) with the other fabrics ( 152 ) in a set of redundant fabrics to send configuration information. Each redundant fabric ( 152 ) examines the first fabric's ( 151 ) configuration information for devices ( 111 - 114, 121 - 122 ) to which the redundant fabric ( 152 ) is also connected and resolves ports ( 161, 162 ) for devices to which the first fabric ( 151 ) and the redundant fabric ( 152 ) are connected to provide ports ( 162 ) on the redundant fabric ( 152 ) equivalent to the ports ( 161 ) on the first fabric ( 151 ).

1 . A method for storage area network configuration, comprising:
 defining a set of redundant fabrics, wherein a fabric is a network between devices of a storage area network;   a first fabric communicating with other fabrics in a set of redundant fabrics to send configuration information;   each redundant fabric examining the configuration information of the first fabric for devices to which the redundant fabric is also connected; and   resolving ports for devices to which the first fabric and the redundant fabric are connected to provide ports on the redundant fabric equivalent to the ports on the first fabric.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , including receiving user confirmation of configuration changes to a redundant fabric. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first fabric communicates with the other fabrics via the internet using an internet protocol name of the main switches of the other fabrics. 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first fabric communicates with the other fabrics by interrogation via a switch manager. 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each redundant fabric examining the configuration information of the first fabric for devices to which the redundant fabric is also connected uses World Wide Node Names (WWNN) associated with the devices to identify common devices. 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein resolving ports for devices includes defining a port by a label identifying devices to which it is connected, wherein the same label is provided on different fabrics for equivalent ports. 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the label maps a WWNN that a port is part of and corresponding WWNNs the port is connected to. 
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the configuration information is a zone change in the first fabric, and the method includes:
 the first fabric identifying devices and ports that are being added or removed from a zone in a fabric-abstract manner; and   each redundant fabric modifying zones to add or remove the ports that correspond to the zone change on the first fabric.   
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , including:
 identifying the set of devices in the zone before the zone change; and   finding a zone on the redundant fabric that contains the set of devices.   
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the configuration information adds a new zone, and the method includes:
 the first fabric identifying devices and ports in the new zone;   finding redundant fabrics containing ports that belong to the identified devices; and   each redundant fabric creating an equivalent zone containing ports that correspond to each device in the new zone.   
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the configuration information duplicates a set of zones onto a new redundant fabric, and the method includes:
 the first fabric creating a list of zones with devices defined in each zone;   the new redundant fabric determining for each port in the new redundant fabric which device it belongs to; and   the new redundant fabric creating zones containing ports which belong to the same set of devices as are in the zones in the first fabric.   
     
     
         12 . A computer program product stored on a computer readable storage medium for storage area network configuration, comprising computer readable program code means for performing the steps of:
 defining a set of redundant fabrics, wherein a fabric is a network between devices of a storage area network;   a first fabric communicating with the other fabrics in a set of redundant fabrics to send configuration information;   each redundant fabric examining the configuration information of the first fabric for devices to which the redundant fabric is also connected; and   resolving ports for devices to which the first fabric and the redundant fabric are connected to provide ports on the redundant fabric equivalent to the ports on the first fabric.   
     
     
         13 . A method of providing a service to a customer over a network, the service comprising:
 defining a set of redundant fabrics, wherein a fabric is a network between devices of a storage area network;   a first fabric communicating with the other fabrics in a set of redundant fabrics to send configuration information;   each redundant fabric examining the configuration information of the first fabric for devices to which the redundant fabric is also connected; and   resolving ports for devices to which the first fabric and the redundant fabric are connected to provide ports on the redundant fabric equivalent to the ports on the first fabric.   
     
     
         14 . A storage area network, comprising:
 at least two fabrics forming a redundant set of fabrics, wherein a fabric is a network between host devices and storage devices;   means for communication between the fabrics of a redundant set configuration information;   means for examining configuration information of a first fabric for devices to which a redundant fabric is also connected; and   means for resolving ports for devices to which the first fabric and the redundant fabric are connected to provide ports on the redundant fabric equivalent to the ports on the first fabric.   
     
     
         15 . A storage area network as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the means for communication between the fabrics is via the internet using an internet protocol name of main switches of the fabrics. 
     
     
         16 . A storage area network as claimed in  claim 14 , including a switch manager with fabric interrogation means for providing communication between fabrics. 
     
     
         17 . A storage area network as claimed in  claim 14 , including a storage area network management tool for managing configuration of the fabrics via a network, including means for configuration of redundant fabrics.