Netapp, Inc.

Derek John Leslie

Marc Wayne Brotherson

John Allen Patterson

Adam Carter

Peter P Waskiewicz, Jr

Marshall McMullen

A technique is configured to utilize messages (e.g., frames) generated by a first layer of a protocol stack for a wireless network to configure network parameters associated with a second layer of the protocol stack for a wired network. The messages are illustratively beacon frames generated by a data link layer of a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) stack for a wireless network, and the network parameters are illustratively IP addresses associated with a network layer of the TCP/IP stack for a wired network. Notably, the beacon frames of the wireless network may be utilized for two-way communication exchange on a per node basis for each node in the wired network.

Assignment of network configuration for a wired network using a wireless network

One or more nodes on a network can run a network discovery service to obtain information regarding network configuration parameters for the nodes on the network by passively listening for packets received on one or more ports. The discovered network configuration data can be used to identify a configuration for various types of nodes. The configuration can then be used to facilitate checking, testing, or self-configuration of a network configuration of one of the nodes (e.g., a lead node or a new node).

Dynamic network discovery service for system deployment and validation

A technique is configured to utilize frames generated by a first layer of a protocol stack for a first network to configure network parameters associated with a second layer of the protocol stack for a second network. The frames are illustratively beacon frames generated by a data link layer of a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) stack for a wireless network, and the network parameters are illustratively IP addresses associated with a network layer of the TCP/IP stack for a wired network. Notably, the beacon frames of the wireless network may be utilized for two-way communication exchange on a per node basis for each node in the wired network.

One or more nodes on a network can perform network discovery operations to obtain information regarding network configuration parameters for the nodes on the network. The network configuration data can be compared and used to determine if there are mismatches between the various node's configurations. A mismatch can indicate that a node is misconfigured, which can result in significant degradation in performance of the node or of the network system as a whole. The network configuration data can be used to automatically resolve errors in configuration or to provide reports on potential errors in configuration. Additionally, the network configuration data that is discovered by a node can be used to establish an initial configuration for the node.

An initial node deployment to form a cluster involves execution of program code to begin discovering other nodes on a LAN that will constitute the cluster. A node initially starts processes to obtain information to transition from an unconfigured state to a configured state. The nodes on the LAN can execute a discovery process that facilitates forming and configuring of the cluster, but the discovered information is confined within the LAN. This effectively blocks cluster configuration until someone locally connects to a host and retrieves a node address. To remove this obstacle, a node image can include program code to detect a compliant target device and extract to the target device an address of a discovered node that is valid for remote cluster configuration. The target device can then be used to convey the extracted address to allow commencement of cluster configuration remotely.

Address extraction of a cluster configuration inception point

A method includes binding, using a plurality of processors, a process to a wildcard address and a port on each of a plurality of nodes. The process receives, on a redirector node, a first request for a first address of a first volume located on the cluster from a first client. The first request is sent to the port and a first address associated with a first virtual local area network (VLAN) that is not the wildcard address. The process determines the first address from the first request and a name of the first VLAN based on the first address. The process determines a first node that contains information regarding the first volume and an address of the first node that is part of the first VLAN. The process determines that a volume identifier associated with the first volume of the first request is present on a volume list.

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Erie, CO, United States of America

Derek John Leslie