Patent ID: 7562163
Filing Date: 2009-07-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method to locate a data storage device disposed in a data storage system, comprising the steps of: providing a data storage system comprising a plurality of SCSI Enclosure Service (“SES”) processors and a plurality of data storage device enclosures attached to a device adapter comprising a plurality of adapter ports, wherein each of said plurality of data storage device enclosures comprises a different SES processor, a plurality of data storage devices and two communication pathways interconnected with two of said plurality of adapter ports, wherein each of said plurality of data storage devices is interconnected with at least one of said two communication pathways, and wherein said device adapter further comprises a memory and a database encoded in said memory, wherein said database comprises a World Wide Port Name assigned to each data storage device port in communication with said device adapter and a loop address claimed by said each data storage device port in communication with said device adapter, but where even after data storage system initialization and operation the physical locations of the data storage devices disposed in said plurality of data storage device enclosures are not known to said plurality of SES processors and to said device adapter; selecting a target data storage device to locate, wherein said target data storage device comprises at least one data storage device port comprising a unique World Wide Port Name and a loop address and wherein the data storage device enclosure comprising the target data storage device is not known; identifying one or more target adapter ports, wherein each target adapter port is in communication with said target data storage device; determining one or more target loop addresses, wherein each target loop address is claimed by a data storage device port in communication with said one or more target adapter ports; determining one or more target World Wide Port Names, wherein each target World Wide Port Name is assigned to a data storage device port in communication with said one or more target adapter ports; selecting a first data storage device enclosure, wherein said first data storage device enclosure comprises one of said plurality of data storage device enclosures; selecting a first communication pathway disposed in said first data storage device enclosure; determining if a World Wide Port Name associated with any data storage device port interconnected with said first communication pathway matches any of said target World Wide Port Names; operative if the World Wide Port Name associated with any said data storage device port interconnected with said first communication pathway matches any of said target World Wide Port Names, identifying a first adapter port, wherein said first adapter port is in communication with said first communication pathway; determining if a data storage device port interconnected with said first adapter port has claimed a loop address that matches the target loop address; operative if the data storage device port interconnected with said first adapter port has claimed the loop address that matches the target loop address, reporting a physical location of said target data storage device within said first data storage device enclosure.