Patent ID: 7689736
Filing Date: 2010-03-30
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of identifying a device interconnected to a port of a storage system controller, comprising: (a) scanning by said storage system controller a network external to said storage system controller through said port of the storage system controller to determine whether any devices are connected to said first port of said storage system controller; (b) in response to said scanning, determining by said storage system controller that at least one device is connected to said first port of said storage system controller; (c) probing by said storage system controller said at least one device that is connected to said first port of said storage system controller; (d) in response to said probing, determining by said storage system controller capabilities of said at least one device connected to said first port of said storage system controller; (e) in response to said determining capabilities and based on said determined capabilities, determining, by said storage system controller, a proper operating mode for said first port of said storage system controller; (f) in response to said determining a proper operating mode for said first port of said storage system controller, first setting, by said storage system controller, an operating mode for said first port of said storage system controller, wherein said first port of said storage system controller is set to one of an initiator if every one of said devices has target device capabilities, a target if every one of said devices has initiator device capabilities, and a target/initiator if less than all devices have target device capabilities and at least one device has target device capabilities, wherein prior to said first setting an operating mode for said first port of said storage system controller a proper operating mode for said first port of said storage system controller is undetermined, and wherein said proper operating mode of said first port of said storage system controller is set after said first port of said storage system controller is interconnected to said at least one device, wherein steps (a) through (f) are iteratively performed periodically; and (g) after said first setting an operating mode of said first port of said storage system controller, transmitting data between said first port of said storage system controller and said at least one device according to the set mode.