Fibre channel storage array methods for port management

Abstract

Methods and systems for processing failover operations in a storage array configured for Fiber Channel communication are provided. One example method includes executing a primary process in user space of a controller of the storage array. The primary process is configured to process request commands from one or more initiators and has access to a volume manager for serving data input/output (I/O) requests. The primary process has a connection to a port of storage array when in operation. The method further executes a secondary process in the user space of the controller to process request commands from one or more of the initiators. The secondary process is not provided access to the volume manger and is provided access to data for responding to non-I/O requests. The secondary process is not provided a connection to the port when the primary process is in operation. The second process is configured to detect that the primary process has entered a state of non-operation, and in response performing a port grab of the port by the secondary process. The method further includes causing a replay of in-progress commands that were being executed by the primary process before entering the state of non-operation and deleting the in-progress commands. The method continues to execute the secondary process while the primary process is in the non-operation state.