Patent Application
20080215986
This invention relates to management console graphical user interfaces for data handling systems, and, more particularly, to generation of the graphical user interfaces.
A management console of a data handling system acts as a systems management platform for devices of the data handling system. The management console may be designed to support a variety of devices, such as switches, device adapters, and storage. System management of each of these devices is very different and each has different functions which must be performed by an operator or administrator in order to configure, use and troubleshoot the device.
Data handling systems typically range from data centers located at one or more sites, major customer facilities, to groups of data processing, network, server, storage and/or other data handling devices. System management may be conducted either locally or remotely, or both.
Data handling systems typically require updating, changing or adding devices to the system. An updated, changed or added device may have different or added functionality from similar devices previously in the system, or may allow different or additional management of the device by the system operator. The management console may be designed to include expected changes in the future, but an updated, changed or added device may require a software update to the management console in order to provide user interface elements and the underlying function that is specific to that device.
Data handling systems, devices and methods update the management console to provide the user interface elements for managing devices, even though the device may be updated, changed or added.
In one embodiment, a management console is configured to store user interface panel elements, to generate graphical user interface panels employing user interface panel elements, and to call commands in response to operation of inputs to graphical user interface panels.
An attached device is configured to send directions to the management console to select at least one of the stored user interface panel elements for a graphical user interface panel for the attached device, and to send directions to the management console to correlate at least one device command for the attached device to the graphical user interface panel for the attached device.
In another embodiment, the management console additionally is configured to insert labels in user interface panel elements; and the attached device is configured to send directions to the management console as to labeling of the graphical user interface panel for the attached device.
In a further embodiment, the attached device additionally is configured to provide to the management console the device command for the attached device for correlation.
In still another embodiment, the attached device is configured to send the directions to the management console as a formatted description.
In a further embodiment, the at least one device command comprises a command for operating a function of the attached device.
In a still further embodiment, the at least one device command comprises a command relating to the management of the attached device.
In another embodiment, a service method generates at least one graphical user interface panel of a management console for managing a data handling system. In the method, the management console stores user interface panel elements, and an attached device sends directions to the management console to select at least one of the stored user interface panel elements for a graphical user interface panel for the device. The device sends directions to the management console to correlate at least one device command for the device to the graphical user interface panel for the attached device; and the management console generates at least one graphical user interface panel employing at least the selected user interface panel element; and calls commands in response to operation of inputs to the at least one graphical user interface panel, of which commands the correlated command is available to be called.
In a further embodiment, the attached device(s) sends directions to the management console as to labeling of the graphical user interface panel for the attached device; and the management console inserts at least one label in at least one user interface panel element per the labeling directions.
In a still further embodiment, the attached device(s) additionally provides to the management console the at least one device command for the attached device.
In another embodiment, the attached device(s) is configured to send the directions to the management console as a formatted description.
In a further embodiment, the device command comprises a command for operating a function of the attached device.
In a still further embodiment, the device command comprises a command relating to the management of the attached device.
For a fuller understanding of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
This invention is described in preferred embodiments in the following description with reference to the Figures, in which like numbers represent the same or similar elements. While this invention is described in terms of the best mode for achieving this invention's objectives, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations may be accomplished in view of these teachings without deviating from the spirit or scope of the invention.
Data handling systems typically require system management to track the devices making up the data handling system and their status, and to troubleshoot problems. A management console 120 acts as a systems management platform for devices of the data handling system. The management console may be designed to support a variety of devices, such as switches, device adapters, and storage. System management of each of these devices is very different and each has different functions which must be performed by an operator or administrator in order to configure, use and troubleshoot the device, using a graphical user interface (GUI) 121 including for example, one or more displays, keyboards, mice, etc. Examples of management consoles with GUIs comprise personal computers (PCs), dedicated terminals, etc., as is known to those of skill in the art.
A dynamic system 100 typically requires updating, changing or adding devices to the system. An updated, changed or added device may have different or added functionality from similar devices previously in the system, or may allow different or additional management of the device by the system operator. The management console may be designed to include expected changes in the future.
In one example, if the updated device has an additional component similar to existing components of the original device, the existing GUI functions can possibly be employed. However, if the updated, changed or added device has a new function, the management console may require a software update in order to provide user interface elements and the underlying function that is specific to that device.
Referring to
The management console 120 may comprise a separate computer processor and GUI display 121 or may comprise applications operating on a single processor or processor system of the data handling system 100. The processor or processor system comprises logic and/or one or more microprocessors with memory, such as memory 140 for storing information and program information for operating the processor(s). Herein “processor” or “control” may comprise any suitable logic, programmable logic, microprocessor, and associated or internal memory for responding to program instructions, and the associated or internal memory may comprise fixed or rewritable memory or data storage devices. The program information may comprise a computer program product tangibly embodied on a computer useable medium, such as a host memory or a data storage drive or disk array, or by a floppy or optical disk, or by a cartridge, or other suitable medium, and be supplied to the management console 120 or memory 140 from an external interface 102, 103, for example from or by a web user interface or other network connection, or by any other suitable means. As one example, the program information computer useable program code is configured to operate the management console 120.
Referring to
Examples of interface panel elements comprise text boxes which may serve as areas to contain or provide input information or labels; buttons that may be selected, for example by a mouse, and which may be labeled; text information areas; and indicators.
The attachment system 135 of the exemplary device 130 may comprise memory and an external interface. The memory may comprise non-volatile data storage, such as a memory system having a battery backup that protects data even if power is lost, flash PROM, EEPROM, disk drive, or other suitable non-volatile memory, as are known to those of skill in the art. The external interface may provide logic for handling data transfer with respect to the management console and may comprise one or more Fibre Channel ports, one or more FICON ports, one or more ESCON ports, one or more SCSI ports, or other suitable ports, all as are known to those of skill in the art.
The attachment system 135 stores directions 137 to be supplied to the management console for generating at least one graphical user interface panel relating to the device 130, as will be discussed.
Referring to
The management console is additionally provided, in step 150, with program code for calling commands in response to operation of inputs to graphical user interface panels.
A device 130 may be attached to the data handling system 100 as a new device, as a replacement device, or as a modification to a device currently or previously attached to the data handling system. Typically, the management console 120 tests whether the device can be contacted, and, if so, contacts the device to request its Vital Product Data (VPD) 138. The management console adds the device's address to a list of managed devices and inserts information based on the VPD that was returned. The management console may also inform the user, for example, at the GUI 121, whether or not the device responded.
The GUI display 155 of
In step 160, the attached device 130, for example, in response to the attachment request from the management console 120, sends directions and information to the management console. The directions are stored by and supplied from the device attachment system 135. The directions comprise directions to the management console 120 to select at least one of the stored user interface panel elements for a graphical user interface panel for the device. The directions may also comprise directions to the management console to correlate at least one device command for the device to the graphical user interface panel for the attached device. The stored directions may further comprise directions to the management console as to labeling of the graphical user interface panel for the attached device. The information may comprise information about the device and its status.
The device directions to the management console 120 are to select at least one of the stored user interface panel elements for a graphical user interface panel for the device, and the information comprises information to include in the GUI panel(s), such as GUI panels 165 of
The device, also in step 160, sends directions to the management console to correlate at least one device command for the device to the graphical user interface panel for the attached device.
The device 130 may additionally send directions to the management console as to labeling of the graphical user interface panel for the attached device.
The management console 120, in step 170, generates at least one graphical user interface panel employing at least the selected user interface panel element, such as GUI panels 165 of
An example of directions in an XML format comprises:
In the above example, each user interface element references data (valueRef) or functions (funcRef) using tree-based accessing commands as are known to those of skill in the art.
The management console 120 has stored the user interface panel elements, for example, in memory 140, and, in response to the directions from the attached device 130, selects stored user interface panel elements for a graphical user interface panel for the device, generating the GUI panel(s) employing the selected user interface panel elements and attaches the directed labels, forming the GUI panels for the device.
The management console 120 correlates at least one device command for the device to the graphical user interface panel for the attached device. The commands either obtain information from the device or cause an operation of the device.
In the above example, <textvalueRef=″./vpd/sas_address[0]″><label>SAS Address</label></text> is telling the management console to look for a relative element in the tree to the current element (the current device) in the device's data and function connections, as is known to those of skill in the art. Here it is looking in the “vpd” (vital product data) branch, for an element called “sas_address”. The label for the text element is attached to the text element by enclosing a <label> element within the <text> element. As an example, text information area 186 is formed by the management console processor:
SAS Address: <span id=“device0_vpd_sas_address”>5005076410000F80<span>
Elements that occur multiple times, for example a ports list 195 is included employing queries that result in multiple elements as known to those of skill in the art. For example:
An example of data representation that is used in the table element may comprise the device's state:
The query in the <tableRow> element results in commands relating to multiple <port> elements and therefore multiple rows of information are inserted into the panel the management console 120 generates in panel 165.
As another example, a function “button funcRef” provides a command causing an operation of the device, such as to operate a reset function of the device, for example, by operation of button 193:
<button funcRef=″./function/power_management/reset″/>
The existing function of the device that is invoked is indicated by an identifier beginning with the dot slash “./” pointer. Actual queries or commands need not begin with a pointer as employed here, as is known to those of skill in the art.
A tag for a command to open a new function, such as opening panel 166 may be by use of button 177 of panel 165:
This tag contains a “funcRef” command as well as a reference to a funcArgs element that is elsewhere in the formatted document provided as the directions from the device 130 which tells the management console “UI” to invoke a function with the argument “panel_name” set to “sasswitch_properties” and which launches the dialog of panel 166.
The user 200, in step 201, may provide any additional information or set up commands, and the management console 120 completes the set-up of the graphical user interface panel(s) for the GUI 121 for the device.
With the set-up completed, the user 202 (does not have to be the same user as user 200) may operate the management console 120 and GUI 121 in step 203, and the management console, in step 205, calls the commands correlated by the management console that are operated by the user, for example, operation of a mouse. Steps 202, 203 and 205 continue and repeat for all of the management operations directed by the user.
Those of skill in the art will understand that changes may be made with respect to the methods discussed above, including changes to the ordering of the steps, or the removal of various steps. Further, those of skill in the art will understand that differing specific component arrangements may be employed than those illustrated herein.
While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and adaptations to those embodiments may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.
