INFINIBAND BOOT BRIDGE WITH FIBRE CHANNEL TARGET

Abstract

A data storage system comprises an InfiniBand port, a fibre channel port, and a controller. The InfiniBand port is operable to connect the data storage system to a computer, and the fibre channel port is operable to connect the data storage system to one or more fibre channel storage devices. The controller is operable to receive an InfiniBand boot request from a computer system via the InfiniBand Port, and to connect the computer system to the one or more fibre channel storage devices via the fiber channel port such that the controller is operable to map an InfiniBand boot request from the computer system to a fibre channel target.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a computer system having an InfiniBand interface coupled via a controller to a fibre channel disk, consistent with an example embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method of booting a computer system having an InfiniBand interface from a fibre channel boot volume mapped via a controller, consistent with an example embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a virtual server system architecture consistent with an example embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows separation of physical infrastructure from the server personality of a server of the system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a controller in the form of a switch, in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows example software architecture of a management module coupled to a third party management tool, consistent with an example embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a server pool as shown in FIG. 3, consistent with an example embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows logical units of the system of FIG. 3, consistent with an example embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows a computer system as may be use to practice various embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A data storage system, comprising: an InfiniBand port operable to connect the data storage system to a computerized system;a fibre channel port operable to connect the data storage system to one or more fibre channel storage devices; anda controller operable to receive an InfiniBand boot request from a computerized system via the InfiniBand Port, and to connect the computerized system to the one or more fibre channel storage devices via the fiber channel port such that the controller is operable to map an InfiniBand boot request from the computer system to a fibre channel target.

2. The data storage system of claim 1, wherein receiving an InfiniBand boot request comprises receiving an InfiniBand GUID initiator.

3. The data storage system of claim 2, wherein receiving an InfiniBand boot request comprises logging in to the InfiniBand port with a well-known service name.

4. The data storage system of claim 2, wherein the controller maps the InfiniBand boot request to a fibre channel target by mapping an InfiniBand GUID initiator to a fibre channel target and LUN.

5. The data storage system of claim 2, wherein the controller is operable to map the InfiniBand boot request to a fibre channel target by mapping a well-known identifier in a world wide port name to a fibre channel target and LUN.

6. The data storage system of claim 1, wherein the InfiniBand port is operable to convey storage device data using the SCSI RDMA protocol.

7. The data storage system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to map more than one fibre channel target to an InfiniBand boot request.

8. The data storage system of claim 7, wherein the InfiniBand boot request is mapped to a first fibre channel target if the first fibre channel target is available, and is mapped to a second fibre channel target if the first fibre channel target is unavailable.

9. A method of operating a data storage system, comprising: connecting the data storage system to a computerized device via an InfiniBand connection;connecting the data storage system to one or more fibre channel storage devices via a fibre channel port;receiving an InfiniBand boot request from a computer system via the InfiniBand Port; andconnecting the computerized device to the one or more fibre channel storage devices via the fiber channel port such that the controller is operable to map an InfiniBand boot request from the computer system to a fibre channel target.

10. The method of operating a data storage system of claim 9, wherein receiving an InfiniBand boot request comprises receiving an InfiniBand GUID initiator.

11. The method of operating a data storage system of claim 10, wherein receiving an InfiniBand boot request comprises logging in to the InfiniBand port with a well-known service name.

12. The method of operating a data storage system of claim 10, further comprising mapping the InfiniBand boot request to a fibre channel target by mapping an InfiniBand GUID initiator to a fibre channel target and LUN.

13. The method of operating a data storage system of claim 10, further comprising mapping the InfiniBand boot request to a fibre channel target by mapping a well-known identifier in a world wide port name to a fibre channel target and LUN.

14. The method of operating a data storage system of claim 9, further comprising conveying storage device data using the SCSI RDMA protocol.

15. The method of operating a data storage system of claim 9, further comprising mapping more than one fibre channel target to an InfiniBand boot request.

16. The method of operating a data storage system of claim 15, wherein the InfiniBand boot request is mapped to a first fibre channel target if the first fibre channel target is available, and is mapped to a second fibre channel target if the first fibre channel target is unavailable.

17. A machine-readable medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions when executed operable to cause a computerized system to: connect the data storage system to a computerized device via an InfiniBand connection;connect the data storage system to one or more fibre channel storage devices via a fibre channel port;receive an InfiniBand boot request from a computer system via the InfiniBand Port; andconnect the computerized device to the one or more fibre channel storage devices via the fiber channel port such that the controller is operable to map an InfiniBand boot request from the computer system to a fibre channel target.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, the instructions when executed further operable to map the InfiniBand boot request to a fibre channel target by mapping an InfiniBand GUID initiator to a fibre channel target and LUN.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, the instructions when executed further operable to map the InfiniBand boot request to a fibre channel target by mapping a well-known identifier in a world wide port name to a fibre channel target and LUN.

20. A data storage system, comprising: communication means connecting the data storage system to a computerized device via an InfiniBand connection;communication means connecting the data storage system to one or more fibre channel storage devices via a fibre channel port;receiving means for receiving an InfiniBand boot request from a computer system via the InfiniBand Port; andprocessing means connecting the computerized device to the one or more fibre channel storage devices via the fiber channel port such that the controller is operable to map an InfiniBand boot request from the computer system to a fibre channel target.