Remote management system

Abstract

A system comprising a first host bus adapter coupled to a first Fibre Channel port and a remote manager associated with a second host bus adapter coupled to a second Fibre Channel port. The remote manager is operable to form a command to be sent by the second host bus adapter to the first host bus adapter via a Common Transport layer of a Fibre Channel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system with a Fibre Channel network, the system comprising: 
 a first host bus adapter coupled to a first port of the Fibre Channel network; and    a remote manager associated with a second host bus adapter coupled to a second port of the Fibre Channel network, the remote manager being operable to send a command from the second host bus adapter to the first host bus adapter via a Common Transport layer of the Fibre Channel network.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first host bus adapter is installed in a server.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a third host bus adapter installed in the server, the third host adapter being coupled to a third Fibre Channel port, wherein the command specifies an object port address for the first host bus adapter and a proxy port address for the third host bus adapter.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one storage device coupled to a third port of the Fibre Channel network.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one network switch.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first host bus adapter is operable to perform the command without involving an operating system of a server in which the first host bus adapter is installed.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote manager is operable to send a command to the second host bus adapter, and the second host bus adapter is operable to respond to the command. 
 Commands    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command specifies an address of a memory buffer where data returned by the first host bus adapter is to be stored.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command discovers names and addresses of all host bus adapters coupled to ports of the Fibre Channel network.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command requests a host bus adapter attribute from the first host bus adapter.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command modifies an attribute of the first host bus adapter.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command requests a port attribute from the first port.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command modifies a port attribute of the first port.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command requests a port statistic from the first port.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command resets a port statistic of the first port.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command requests a server attribute from a server coupled to the first host bus adapter.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command modifies a server attribute of a server coupled to the first host bus adapter.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command copies a file to a repository, the repository being accessible by the remote manager.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command verifies whether a firmware file could be successfully downloaded to the first host bus adapter.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command sends a file in a first repository associated with the remote manager to a second repository associated with the first host bus adapter.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the file comprises firmware.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the file comprises a driver.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command instructs the first host bus adapter to download firmware in a repository associated with the first host bus adapter, the firmware being loaded from the remote manager.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command comprises: 
 copying a firmware file to a first repository, the first repository being accessible by the remote manager;    verifying whether the firmware file could be successfully downloaded to the first host bus adapter;    sending the firmware file in the first repository associated with the remote manager to a second repository associated with the first host bus adapter; and    instructing the first host bus adapter to download firmware in the second repository associated with the first host bus adapter.    
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command resets operation of the first host bus adapter.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command renames a specified file in a repository on a server associated with the first host bus adapter.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command deletes a specified file in a repository on a server associated with the first host bus adapter.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command retrieves a list of file names in a repository associated with the first host bus adapter.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command retrieves mapping between Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP) targets and Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) information.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command retrieves an attribute of a driver associated with the first host bus adapter.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command modifies an attribute of a driver associated with the first host bus adapter.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command retrieves names of all nodes associated with the first host bus adapter for a binding operation.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command adds a persistent binding.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command deletes a persistent binding. 
 RM Client    
     
     
         35 . A software module executable on a computer to send a command from a first host bus adapter to a second host bus adapter via a Common Transport layer of a Fibre Channel network.  
     
     
         36 . The software module of  claim 35 , comprising a client application, an application programming interface and a library of command functions, wherein the application programming interface allows the client application to access the library of command functions.  
     
     
         37 . The software module of  claim 36 , wherein the client application comprises a graphical user interface operable to allow a user to manage the client application.  
     
     
         38 . The software module of  claim 36 , wherein the client application is a web browser.  
     
     
         39 . The software module of  claim 36 , wherein the client application is a extensible Markup Language (XML) application.  
     
     
         40 . The software module of  claim 36 , wherein the client application is a Java application.  
     
     
         41 . The software module of  claim 36 , further comprising a device driver.  
     
     
         42 . The software module of  claim 36 , further comprising a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) application.  
     
     
         43 . The software module of  claim 36 , further comprising a Microsoft Management Console.  
     
     
         44 . The software module of  claim 36 , further comprising an extensible Markup Language (XML) application.  
     
     
         45 . The software module of  claim 36 , further comprising an extensible Markup Language (XML) parser module.  
     
     
         46 . The software module of  claim 36 , further comprising an extensible Markup Language (XML) page server module.  
     
     
         47 . The software module of  claim 36 , further comprising a Java native interface.  
     
     
         48 . The software module of  claim 36 , further comprising an out-of-band Internet Protocol Ethernet interface.  
     
     
         49 . The software module of  claim 35 , wherein the command requests a port attribute.  
     
     
         50 . The software module of  claim 35 , wherein the command modifies a port attribute.  
     
     
         51 . The software module of  claim 35 , wherein the command requests a port statistic.  
     
     
         52 . The software module of  claim 35 , wherein the command modifies a port statistic.  
     
     
         53 . The software module of  claim 35 , wherein the command requests a host bus adapter attribute.  
     
     
         54 . The software module of  claim 35 , wherein the command modifies a host bus adapter attribute.  
     
     
         55 . The software module of  claim 35 , wherein the command requests a server attribute.  
     
     
         56 . The software module of  claim 35 , wherein the command modifies a server attribute.  
     
     
         57 . The software module of  claim 35 , wherein the command instructs the second host bus adapter to load a firmware file.  
     
     
         58 . The software module of  claim 35 , wherein the command adds a persistent binding.  
     
     
         59 . The software module of  claim 35 , wherein the command deletes a persistent binding.  
     
     
         60 . The software module of  claim 35 , wherein the command sets an address of a host bus adapter.  
     
     
         61 . The software module of  claim 35 , wherein the command runs a diagnostic test on a host bus adapter. 
 RMAPI    
     
     
         62 . A program interface module at a first computer, the program interface module being operable to allow a client software application to access a library of remote management functions, each remote management function being associated with a Fibre Channel Common Transport command, each Fibre Channel Common Transport command being configured to command a component of a second computer to perform a function, the second computer being in communication with the first computer via a Fibre Channel network.  
     
     
         63 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , the program interface module being operable to allow a client software application to access a second library of remote management functions, each remote management function in the second library being associated with a Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) command, each iSCSI command being configured to command a component of a second computer to perform a function.  
     
     
         64 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , comprising a dynamic link library.  
     
     
         65 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the client software application is a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) application.  
     
     
         66 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the client software application is a native application.  
     
     
         67 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the client software application is a Java application.  
     
     
         68 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the client software application is a web browser.  
     
     
         69 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the client software application is an extensible Markup Language (XML) application.  
     
     
         70 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the client software application is a Microsoft management console.  
     
     
         71 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command discovers names and addresses of all host bus adapters coupled to ports of the Fibre Channel network.  
     
     
         72 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command requests a host bus adapter attribute from a host bus adapter of the second computer.  
     
     
         73 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command modifies an attribute of a host bus adapter of the second computer.  
     
     
         74 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command requests a port attribute from a port of the second computer.  
     
     
         75 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command modifies a port attribute a port of the second computer.  
     
     
         76 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command requests a port statistic from a port of the second computer.  
     
     
         77 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command resets a port statistic of a port of the second computer.  
     
     
         78 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command requests a server attribute of the second computer.  
     
     
         79 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command modifies a server attribute of the second computer.  
     
     
         80 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command sends a firmware file in a first repository associated with the first computer to a second repository associated with the second computer.  
     
     
         81 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command instructs a host bus adapter of the second computer to download firmware in a repository associated with the first host bus adapter, the firmware being loaded from the first computer.  
     
     
         82 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command comprises: 
 copying a firmware file to a first repository, the first repository being accessible by the first computer;    verifying whether the firmware file could be successfully downloaded to a host bus adapter of the second computer;    sending the firmware file in the first repository associated with the first computer to a second repository associated with the second computer; and    instructing the host bus adapter to download firmware in the second repository associated with the host bus adapter.    
     
     
         83 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command resets operation of a host bus adapter of the second computer.  
     
     
         84 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command renames a specified file in a repository in the second computer.  
     
     
         85 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command deletes a specified file in a repository in the second computer.  
     
     
         86 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command retrieves a list of file names in a repository in the second computer.  
     
     
         87 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command retrieves mapping between Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP) targets and Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) information.  
     
     
         88 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command retrieves an attribute of a driver associated with a host bus adapter of the second computer.  
     
     
         89 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command modifies an attribute of a driver associated with a host bus adapter of the second computer.  
     
     
         90 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command retrieves names of all nodes associated with a host bus adapter of the second computer for a binding operation.  
     
     
         91 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command adds a persistent binding.  
     
     
         92 . The program interface module of  claim 62 , wherein the command deletes a persistent binding. 
 iSCSI    
     
     
         93 . A system with an Internet Small Computer System Interface (ISCSI) network, the system comprising: 
 a first host bus adapter coupled to a first port of the iSCSI network; and    a remote manager associated with a second host bus adapter coupled to a second port of the iSCSI network, the remote manager being operable to send a command from the second host bus adapter to the first host bus adapter in Internet Protocol packets via the iSCSI network.    Attribute Data Structure    
     
     
         94 . A data structure comprising an attribute type field, an attribute length field, and an attribute datum field, the data structure describing an attribute of a component in a storage area network, the attribute data structure being configured to be transmitted from a first node to a second node of a Fibre Channel network via a Fibre Channel Common Transport layer.  
     
     
         95 . The attribute data structure of  claim 94 , wherein the component is a host bus adapter.  
     
     
         96 . The attribute data structure of  claim 94 , wherein the component is a host bus adapter driver.  
     
     
         97 . The attribute data structure of  claim 94 , wherein the component is a server.  
     
     
         98 . The attribute data structure of  claim 94 , wherein the component is a port.  
     
     
         99 . The attribute data structure of  claim 94 , wherein the component is a storage device. 
 RMAPI function/command structures, FC-CT command/functions, CT IU packet structures, IOCTL routines    
     
     
         100 . A Fibre Channel Common Transport command configured to be sent from a first Fibre Channel port to a second Fibre Channel port, the Fibre Channel Common Transport command instructing a component in communication with the second Fibre Channel port to perform a function.  
     
     
         101 . The Fibre Channel Common Transport command of  claim 100 , wherein the component in communication with the second Fibre Channel port is a host bus adapter.  
     
     
         102 . The Fibre Channel Common Transport command of  claim 100 , wherein the component in communication with the second Fibre Channel port is a server.  
     
     
         103 . The Fibre Channel Common Transport command of  claim 100 , wherein the component in communication with the second Fibre Channel port is a storage device.  
     
     
         104 . The Fibre Channel Common Transport command of  claim 100 , wherein the function comprises sending a host bus adapter parameter from the second Fibre Channel port to the first Fibre Channel port.  
     
     
         105 . A command structure configured to be sent from a first computer at a first Fibre Channel port to a second computer at a second Fibre Channel port, the command structure comprising: 
 an object port address that specifies where the command is to be sent;    a proxy port address that specifies a backup address where the command is to be sent;    a pointer; and    a return value.    
     
     
         106 . A command structure configured to instruct a first host bus adapter to send firmware to a second host bus adapter in a Fibre Channel storage area network.  
     
     
         107 . A command structure configured to instruct a first host bus adapter to send firmware to a second host bus adapter in a Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) storage area network.  
     
     
         108 . A command structure configured to discover all host bus adapters in a storage area network coupled to Fibre Channel ports. 
 Repository    
     
     
         109 . A repository comprising a disk-based directory, the repository being operable to store a file to be transferred from a first computer server to a computer second server via a plurality of Fibre Channel Command Transport packets.  
     
     
         110 . The repository of  claim 109 , wherein the file comprises a host bus adapter firmware.  
     
     
         111 . The repository of  claim 109 , wherein the file comprises a device driver.  
     
     
         112 . The repository of  claim 109 , being stored in a storage device of the first computer server.  
     
     
         113 . A repository comprising a disk-based directory at a second computer, the repository being operable to store a file transferred from a first computer to the second computer via a plurality of Fibre Channel Command Transport packets. 
 Agent    
     
     
         114 . A software module operable to communicate with a host bus adapter driver on a server, the software module comprising: 
 a plurality of remote command modules operable to receive commands from remote ports of a storage area network;    a kernel operable to dispatch the commands received from the remote command modules to a plurality of protocol managers; and    a plurality of management service modules operable to execute the commands.    
     
     
         115 . The software module of  claim 114 , wherein one of the remote command modules is operable to receive Fibre Channel Common Transport (FC-CT) commands.  
     
     
         116 . The software module of  claim 114 , wherein one of the remote command modules is operable to receive Internet-Protocol-based Fibre Channel Common Transport (FC-CT) commands.  
     
     
         117 . The software module of  claim 114 , wherein one of the remote command modules is operable to receive Internet-Protocol-based Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) commands.  
     
     
         118 . The software module of  claim 114 , wherein one of the management service modules comprises a directory server.  
     
     
         119 . The software module of  claim 114 , wherein one of the management service modules comprises a key server.  
     
     
         120 . The software module of  claim 114 , wherein one of the management service modules comprises a module operable to authenticate a source of the command. 
 Methods    
     
     
         121 . A method of sending a command to a device in a Fibre Channel network, the method comprising: 
 receiving a user command at a first device in the Fibre Channel network;    accessing a Fibre Channel Common Transport command library to identify a Fibre Channel Common Transport command that corresponds to the user command;    encapsulating the Fibre Channel Common Transport command in a Common Transport Information Unit Request; and    sending the Common Transport Information Unit Request to a second device via the Fibre Channel network.    
     
     
         122 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the second device is a server.  
     
     
         123 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the second device is a host bus adapter.  
     
     
         124 . The method of  claim 121 , further comprising checking an authentication code of the Common Transport Information Unit Request.  
     
     
         125 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command discovers names and addresses of all host bus adapters coupled to ports of the Fibre Channel network.  
     
     
         126 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command requests a host bus adapter attribute from the second device.  
     
     
         127 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command modifies a host bus adapter attribute of the second device.  
     
     
         128 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command requests a port attribute from the second device.  
     
     
         129 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command modifies a port attribute of the second device.  
     
     
         130 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command requests a port statistic from the second device.  
     
     
         131 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command resets a port statistic of the second device.  
     
     
         132 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command requests a server attribute from the second device.  
     
     
         133 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command modifies a server attribute of the second device.  
     
     
         134 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command copies a file to a repository, the repository being accessible by the second device.  
     
     
         135 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command sends firmware in a first repository associated with the first device to a second repository associated with the second device.  
     
     
         136 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command instructs the second device to download firmware in a repository associated with the second device, the firmware being loaded from the first device.  
     
     
         137 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command comprises: 
 copying a firmware file to a first repository, the first repository being accessible by the first device;    sending the firmware file in the first repository associated with the first device to a second repository associated with the second device; and    instructing the second device to download firmware in the second repository associated with the second device.    
     
     
         138 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command resets operation of a host bus adapter of the second device.  
     
     
         139 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command renames a specified file in a repository on a server associated with the second device.  
     
     
         140 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command deletes a specified file in a repository on a server associated with the second device.  
     
     
         141 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command retrieves a list of file names in a repository associated with the second device.  
     
     
         142 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command retrieves mapping between Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP) targets and Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) information.  
     
     
         143 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command retrieves an attribute of a driver associated with the second device.  
     
     
         144 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command modifies an attribute of a driver associated with the second device.  
     
     
         145 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command retrieves names of all nodes associated with the second device for a binding operation.  
     
     
         146 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command adds a persistent binding.  
     
     
         147 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein the command deletes a persistent binding.  
     
     
         148 . A method of sending a command to a device in a Internet Small Computer Interface (iSCSI) network, the method comprising: 
 receiving a user command at a first device in the iSCSI network;    accessing a iSCSI command library to identify an iSCSI command that corresponds to the user command; and    sending the iSCSI command to a second device via the iSCSI network.    
     
     
         149 . A method of transferring a firmware file to a remote host bus adapter, the method comprising: 
 importing a firmware file to a local repository;    verifying that the firmware file is compatible with the remote adapter that is to receive the firmware file; and    sending the firmware file to the remote host adapter via a Fibre Channel Common Transport (FC-CT) layer.    
     
     
         150 . The method of  claim 149 , further comprising receiving the firmware file at the remote host adapter and copying the firmware file to a repository associated with the remote host bus adapter.  
     
     
         151 . The method of  claim 149 , further comprising receiving a download file command and installing the firmware file onto the remote host bus adapter.  
     
     
         152 . The method of  claim 149 , wherein verifying that the firmware file is compatible with a remote adapter that is to receive the file comprises checking a checksum of the file.  
     
     
         153 . The method of  claim 149 , wherein verifying that the firmware file is compatible with a remote adapter that is to receive the file comprises determining whether a type of the file matches a type of the host bus adapter.