International Business Machines Corporation

James Britt Partridge

James Anthony Pafumi

James P Allen

Robert G Kovacs

Michael Paul Cyr

Lance Warren Russell

Vasu Vallabhaneni

Jessie Ann Haug

Daniel Cletus Gillen

Derwin DeLon Gavin

Eldon Perry Smith

Bruce Gerard Mealey

Vishal Chittranjan Aslot

Jacob Jason Rosales

Chris Alan Schwendiman

Stephen M Tee

Disclosed is a computer implemented method, data processing system and computer program product to discover an SCSI target. The method comprises a client adapter transmitting an N_port ID virtualization (NPIV) login to a virtual I/O server (VIOS). The client adapter receives a successful login acknowledgement from the VIOS and issues a discover-targets command to the fabric. Upon determining that the SCSI target information is received, wherein the SCSI target information includes at least one SCSI identifier. Responsive a determination that SCSI target information is received the client adapter issues a port login to a target port, wherein the target port is associated with the at least one SCSI target. The client adapter makes a process login to form an initiator/target nexus between a client and at least one SCSI target. The client adapter queries the SCSI target by using a world wide port name associated with the target port.

Fibre channel N-port ID virtualization protocol

Method and apparatus for a fibre channel N-port ID virtualization protocol

A mechanism is provided for altering access to a network. A virtual I/O server controller in a virtual I/O server operating system receives an indication that an identified communications adapter requires attention. The virtual I/O server controller issues a set of calls to a set of N_port identification virtualization server adapters coupled to the identified communications adapter. Each of the set of calls indicates to each of the set of N_port identification virtualization server adapters a request to move a set of clients from their assigned port on the identified communications adapter to an available port on a failover communications adapter. The set of N_port identification virtualization server adapters moves the set of clients from the identified communications adapter to the failover communications adapter.

Altering access to a fibre channel fabric

Embodiments that dynamically manage physical and virtual multipath I/O are contemplated. Various embodiments comprise one or more computing devices, such as one or more servers, having at least two HBAs. At least one of the HBAs may be associated with a virtual I/O server that employs the HBA to transfer data between a plurality of virtual clients and one or more storage devices of a storage area network. The embodiments may monitor the availability of the HBAs, such as monitoring the HBAs for a failure of the HBA or a device coupled to the HBA. Upon detecting the unavailability of one of the HBAs, the embodiments may switch, dynamically, from the I/O path associated with the unavailable HBA to the alternate HBA.

Dynamic physical and virtual multipath I/O

A system and method for passing data between a first device driver and a second device driver. Data to be provided to the second device driver is identified in the first device driver. A data exchange interface within a kernel space is invoked by the first device driver. The data exchange interface initializes a physical to Direct Memory Access (DMA) address translation table for the child device based on an identifier of a direct memory access window. The data is provided to the data exchange interface. The data exchange interface, in the kernel space, writes the data to a data structure maintained and used by the second device driver.

System and method for passing information from one device driver to another

A computer system, memory, and computer-implemented method for generating at least one high performance communication path is provided. The communication path has a plurality of linked components, including a negotiator and a controller. The method includes the steps of registering the negotiator with the controller (e.g. stream head), verifying acknowledgement of negotiation from each component linked between the negotiator and the controller, and in response to a valid verification, redirecting I/O between the controller and the negotiator.

High performance communications path

Growing community of inventors

Bastrop, TX, United States of America

James Britt Partridge