Patent ID: 7770059
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for protecting against failure in a plurality of storage area networks including a plurality of data storage volumes and one or more hosts, wherein the volumes are in a switched storage network in the storage area networks wherein the switched storage network includes one or more processors in the switched storage network that include program logic capable of carrying out steps of the method comprising: carrying out failure protection by distinguishing an occurrence of a first failure mode from a second failure mode by using one or more reservation keys, wherein such reservation keys are recognizable by one or more virtualization services for distinguishing a first failure mode from a second failure mode; wherein a first virtualization service of the one or more virtualization services sets a first reservation key of the one or more reservation keys on a first volume and on a second volume of the plurality of data storage volumes when the failure mode is the first failure mode.