Dynamic switching of a communication port in a storage system between target and initiator modes

Abstract

A storage system includes a communication port, the mode of operation of which can be dynamically switched by a user between a target mode and an initiator mode. The port may be a Fibre Channel port. The storage system may be a unified storage system operable to provide file-level access and block-level access to stored data.

1 . A method comprising:
 operating a storage system that includes a communication port, the port having a mode of operation; and   dynamically switching the mode of operation of the port between a target mode and an initiator mode by reconfiguring the port to operate in either the target mode or the initiator mode based on whether a right to use a particular protocol is associated with the storage system.   
   
   
       2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein operating the storage system comprises storing a variable within the storage system; and
 dynamically switching the mode of operation of the port comprises:
 changing a state of the variable based on user input; and 
 reconfiguring the port to operate in either the target mode or the initiator mode based on the state of the variable. 
   
   
   
       3 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the storage system is operable to provide a plurality of hosts with file-level access and block-level access to stored data. 
   
   
       4 . A method as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising reconfiguring the storage system from a first network configuration to a second network configuration or vice versa;
 wherein in the first network configuration, the port is configured in the target mode and the storage system is connected through the port via a switching fabric to a set of clients to provide the set of clients with block-level access to a set of mass storage devices; and   wherein in the second network configuration, the port is configured in the initiator mode.   
   
   
       5 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein dynamically switching the mode of operation of the port comprises:
 selecting one of a target driver and an initiator driver for the port based on a state of a variable.   
   
   
       6 . A storage system comprising:
 a processor;   a communication port having a mode of operation;   a memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the storage system to:
 dynamically switch the mode of operation of the port to operate in either a target mode or an initiator mode by reconfiguring the port to operate in either the target mode or the initiator mode based on whether a right to use a particular protocol is associated with the storage system. 
   
   
   
       7 . A storage system as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising a second memory to store a variable within the storage system, wherein dynamically switching the mode of operation of the port comprises:
 changing a state of the variable based on user input; and   reconfiguring the port to operate in either the target mode or the initiator mode based on the state of the variable.   
   
   
       8 . A storage system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the storage system is operable to provide a plurality of hosts with file-level access and block-level access to stored data. 
   
   
       9 . A storage system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the memory storing instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the storage system to reconfigure the storage system from a first network configuration to a second network configuration or vice versa;
 wherein in the first network configuration, the port is configured in the target mode and the storage system is connected through the port via a switching fabric to a set of clients to provide the set of clients with block-level access to a set of mass storage devices; and   wherein in the second network configuration, the port is configured in the initiator mode.   
   
   
       10 . A storage system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein dynamically switching the mode of operation of the port comprises:
 selecting one of a target driver and an initiator driver for the port based on a state of a variable.