Zone Group Reassignment Using Storage Device Signatures

Abstract

In one example, a method for assigning zone groups to a physical storage enclosure includes comparing a first signature assigned to a number of first storage devices in an online physical storage enclosure against a second signature assigned to a number of second storage devices in a first offline physical storage enclosure of a number of offline physical storage enclosures. The method may further include, in response to a determination that the first signature matches the second signature, copying zone groups from the first offline physical storage enclosure associated with the second signature to the online physical storage enclosure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for assigning zone groups to a physical storage enclosure, comprising:
 comparing a first signature assigned to a number of first storage devices in an online physical storage enclosure against a second signature assigned to a number of second storage devices in a first offline physical storage enclosure of a number of offline physical storage enclosures;   in response to a determination that the first signature matches the second signature, copying zone groups from the first offline physical storage enclosure associated with the second signature to the online physical storage enclosure.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second signatures are created based on a number of serial numbers of the first and second storage devices in the online physical storage enclosure and the first offline physical storage enclosure, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second signatures are created based on a hash of a number of the serial numbers of the first and second storage devices in the online physical storage enclosure and the first offline physical storage enclosure, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second signatures are created based on a number of unique worldwide IDs stored on the storage devices in the online physical storage enclosure and the first offline physical storage enclosure, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein comparing a first signature assigned to a number of first storage devices in an online physical storage enclosure against a second signature assigned to a number of second storage devices in a first offline physical storage enclosure of a number of offline physical storage enclosures comprises comparing the first signature created using a first set of all serial numbers of the first storage devices in the online physical storage enclosure against the second signature created using a second set of all serial numbers of the second storage devices in the first offline physical storage enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining if the online physical storage enclosure is one of the offline physical storage enclosures;   responsive to a determination that the online physical storage enclosure is not one of the offline physical storage enclosures, obtaining the first signature of the online physical storage enclosure; and   determining if there exist any of the number of offline physical storage enclosures;   responsive to a determination that there does not exist any of the number of offline physical storage enclosures, recording a number of serial numbers of the first storage devices in the online physical storage enclosure in an enclosure table comprising an ID of the online physical storage enclosure, a number of storage bays in the online physical storage enclosure, and the serial numbers of the first storage devices.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising storing a zone group record for the first storage devices in the online physical storage enclosure in a non-volatile storage location wherein the zone group record includes the first signature. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 detecting when the first storage devices in the online physical storage enclosure is assigned into a zone group;   associating the zone group assignment with the first signature; and   storing the zone group assignment in the non-volatile storage location.   
     
     
         9 . A switch, comprising:
 logic for limiting access from a number of input ports to a number of output ports based on a zone group record;   wherein the zone group record comprises:
 a list of input ports that are included in each zone group; and 
 at least one storage enclosure record comprising:
 a storage enclosure logical ID; 
 a listing of drive bays in the storage enclosure, the zone groups associated with each drive bay and a signature of a storage device loaded in each of the drive bays; and 
 
   logic to compare a first signature assigned to a number of first storage devices in an online physical storage enclosure with a second signature assigned to a number of second storage devices in a first offline physical storage enclosure of a number of offline physical storage enclosures; and   logic to, in response to a determination that the first signature matches the second signature, copy zone groups from the first offline physical storage enclosure associated with the second signature to the online physical storage enclosure.   
     
     
         10 . The switch of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 logic to:
 determine if the online physical storage enclosure is one of the offline physical storage enclosures; 
 responsive to a determination that the online physical storage enclosure is not one of the offline physical storage enclosures, obtaining the first signature of the online physical storage enclosure; and 
   determining if there exist any of the number of offline physical storage enclosures;   responsive to a determination that there does not exist any of the number of offline physical storage enclosures, recording a number of serial numbers of the first storage devices in the online physical storage enclosure in an enclosure table comprising an ID of the online physical storage enclosure, a number of storage bays in the online physical storage enclosure, and the serial numbers of the first storage devices,   responsive to a determination that there does exist any of the number of offline physical storage enclosures, comparing the first signature created using a first set of all serial numbers of the first storage devices in the online physical storage enclosure with the second signature created using a second set of all serial numbers of the second storage devices in the first offline physical storage enclosure,   responsive to a determination that all the serial numbers of the first storage devices match all the serial numbers of the second storage devices, copying the zone groups from the first offline physical storage enclosure associated with the second signature to the online physical storage enclosure.   
     
     
         11 . A data center, comprising:
 a plurality of servers;   a plurality of switches coupled to the servers; and   a plurality of data storage enclosures communicatively coupled to the servers via the switches,   wherein the switches:
 compare a first signature assigned to a number of first storage devices in an online physical storage enclosure against a second signature assigned to a number of second storage devices in a first offline physical storage enclosure of a number of offline physical storage enclosures; and 
 responsive to a determination that the first signature matches the second signature, copy zone groups from the first offline physical storage enclosure associated with the second signature to the online physical storage enclosure. 
   
     
     
         12 . The data center of  claim 11 , wherein the switches further comprise logic to:
 detect when the an online physical storage enclosure is added to the data center; and   determine if the online physical storage enclosure is one of the number of offline physical storage enclosures by comparing the a first unique storage enclosure ID assigned to the online physical storage enclosure with a second unique storage enclosure ID assigned to one of the offline physical storage enclosures.   
     
     
         13 . The data center of  claim 12 , wherein the switches further comprise logic to:
 responsive to a determination that the online physical storage enclosure is not one of the number of offline physical storage enclosures, classifying the online physical storage enclosure as a new physical storage enclosure and obtaining all of the number of serial numbers of the first storage devices in the online physical storage enclosure.   
     
     
         14 . The data center of  claim 13 , wherein the switches further comprise logic to:
 determine if there exist any of the number of offline physical storage enclosures;   responsive to a determination that there does exist any of the number of offline physical storage enclosures, determining if the first signature created using a first set of all serial numbers of the first storage devices in the online physical storage enclosure matches the second signature created using a second set of all serial numbers of the second storage devices in the first offline physical storage enclosure; and   responsive to a determination that all the serial numbers of the first storage devices match all the serial numbers of the second storage devices, copying the zone groups from the first offline physical storage enclosure associated with the second signature to the online physical storage enclosure.   
     
     
         15 . The data center of  claim 14 , wherein the switches further comprise logic to, responsive to a determination that all the serial numbers of the first storage devices do not match all the serial numbers of the second storage devices, record all the serial numbers of the first storage devices in an enclosure table, the enclosure table comprising a storage enclosure logical ID, a listing of drive bays in the storage enclosure, zone groups associated with each drive bay, and a signature of a storage device loaded in each of the drive bays.