Methods and systems for managing network addresses in a clustered storage environment

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for a clustered storage system. The method assigns a network access address to a virtual network interface card (VNIC) at a first cluster node of a clustered storage system, where a physical network interface card assigned to the network access address is managed by a second cluster node of the clustered storage system; and use the VNIC by a virtual storage server at the first cluster node to communicate on behalf of the second cluster node.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A machine implemented method, comprising:
 assigning a network access address to a virtual network interface card (VNIC) at a first cluster node of a clustered storage system, where a physical network interface card assigned to the network access address is managed by a second cluster node of the clustered storage system; and   using the VNIC by a virtual storage server at the first cluster node to communicate on behalf of the second cluster node.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first cluster node and the second cluster node store an address data structure for storing a plurality of network access addresses used by a plurality of virtual storage servers executed by at least the first cluster node and the second cluster node. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the address data structure is updated when the network access address is assigned to the VNIC. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network access address is an Internet Protocol address that is assigned to the physical network interface card. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the VNIC sends a packet to the second cluster node for transmitting the packet outside the cluster storage system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first cluster node makes a port reservation with the second cluster node to use the network access address to communicate on behalf of the second cluster node. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein an address data structure stores a port identifier for a port reserved by the first cluster node. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory, machine readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions for performing a method, comprising machine executable code which when executed by at least one machine, causes the machine to:
 assign a network access address to a virtual network interface card (VNIC) at a first cluster node of a clustered storage system, where a physical network interface card assigned to the network access address is managed by a second cluster node of the clustered storage system; and   use the VNIC by a virtual storage server at the first cluster node to communicate on behalf of the second cluster node.   
     
     
         9 . The storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the first cluster node and the second cluster node store an address data structure for storing a plurality of network access addresses used by a plurality of virtual storage servers executed by at least the first cluster node and the second cluster node. 
     
     
         10 . The storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the address data structure is updated when the network access address is assigned to the VNIC. 
     
     
         11 . The storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the network access address is an Internet Protocol address that is assigned to the physical network interface card. 
     
     
         12 . The storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the VNIC sends a packet to the second cluster node for transmitting the packet outside the cluster storage system. 
     
     
         13 . The storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the first cluster node makes a port reservation with the second cluster node to use the network access address to communicate on behalf of the second cluster node. 
     
     
         14 . The storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein an address data structure stores a port identifier for a port reserved by the first cluster node. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a memory containing machine readable medium comprising machine executable code having stored thereon instructions; and a processor module coupled to the memory, the processor module configured to execute the machine executable code to:   assign a network access address to a virtual network interface card (VNIC) at a first cluster node of a clustered storage system, where a physical network interface card assigned to the network access address is managed by a second cluster node of the clustered storage system; and   use the VNIC by a virtual storage server at the first cluster node to communicate on behalf of the second cluster node.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first cluster node and the second cluster node store an address data structure for storing a plurality of network access addresses used by a plurality of virtual storage servers executed by at least the first cluster node and the second cluster node. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the address data structure is updated when the network access address is assigned to the VNIC. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the network access address is an Internet Protocol address that is assigned to the physical network interface card. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the VNIC sends a packet to the second cluster node for transmitting the packet outside the cluster storage system. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first cluster node makes a port reservation with the second cluster node to use the network access address to communicate on behalf of the second cluster node.